Special Event: U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek H. Murthy, MD, MBA

Stress. There is the good kind—the kind that makes us feel alive and excited. And then there is chronic stress—the type that keeps our cortisol levels high and has a toxic effect on our bodies, minds, and hearts. Unfortunately, we have seen a dramatic increase in chronic stress: in 2015, 24% of adults in America reported experiencing extreme stress, up from 18% in 2014. (Younger generations and women report higher average stress levels.) At the same time, we are pushed apart by social isolation, rising from 20% in the 1980s to 40% today. In a world where pressures are mounting and loneliness is increasing, how might we heal and protect our health?

Join the 19th U.S Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek H. Murthy, for a conversation on cultivating and sustaining emotional well-being as a pillar of personal and public health. And how emotional well-being might be the best prescription not only for ourselves and our communities, but for the future of our country.

The event will be moderated by Patti Williams, Ira A. Lipman Associate Professor of Marketing, The Wharton School.

Biography: Surgeon General Vice Admiral (VADM) Vivek H. Murthy, MD, MBA
Dr. Murthy was nominated by President Barack Obama in November 2013 and confirmed on December 15, 2014 as the 19th United States Surgeon General. As “America’s Doctor”, he is responsible for communicating the best available scientific information to the public regarding ways to improve personal health and the health of the nation. He also oversees the operations of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, comprised of approximately 6,700 uniformed health officers who serve in locations around the world to promote, protect, and advance the health and safety of the nation. More about Dr. Vivek H. Murthy here.