Vivek Murthy

Vivek Murthy is a distinguished American physician and public health advocate who has served as the 19th and 21st Surgeon General of the United States under Presidents Barack Obama, Donald Trump, and Joe Biden. Born on July 10, 1977, in Huddersfield, England, to Indian immigrant parents, he was raised in Miami, Florida. Murthy earned his B.S. in Biochemical Sciences from Harvard University, followed by an M.D. and M.B.A. from Yale University. Early in his career, he co-founded Doctors for America, a nonprofit organization aimed at improving healthcare access and advocating for the Affordable Care Act .

During his tenure as Surgeon General, Murthy focused on addressing pressing public health issues, including the opioid crisis, mental health, and loneliness. He was the first Surgeon General to issue a report on e-cigarettes and highlighted the importance of social connections for overall well-being. His 2020 book, Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World, delves into the societal impact of isolation and the critical need for community and empathy in combating loneliness .

Murthy's work emphasizes the profound effects of social connection on health. As he stated, “The greatest predictor of your health is not your DNA, but the strength of your relationships” . He also noted, “Loneliness is a natural signal, like hunger, thirst, or pain. It’s a prompt to seek others, to break through the wall that keeps us apart” . These insights underscore his belief in the power of human connection as a cornerstone of public health.