Vivek Murthy

Dr Vivek H. Murthy has twice served as Surgeon General of the United States — a role often described as the nation’s chief advocate for public health — under Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden. Across both terms, he has shaped global conversations on addiction, mental health, and the importance of human connection.

During his first term (2014–2017), Murthy led landmark efforts to address the opioid crisis and youth vaping, reframing addiction as a chronic illness rather than a moral failing through his Facing Addiction in America report. His TurnTheTideRx campaign, the first nationwide letter from a Surgeon General to the medical profession, mobilised millions of clinicians to curb overprescription. He also issued the first federal report on e-cigarettes and launched Step It Up!, a national call to promote walking and healthier communities.

As Vice Admiral of the US Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, Murthy directed responses to Ebola, Zika, the Flint water crisis and major hurricanes. After leaving office, he turned to what he called the “epidemic of loneliness.” His 2020 bestseller Together argued that social disconnection is a public health threat on par with smoking and obesity. Returning to office in 2021, Vivek Murthy placed connection at the centre of his agenda, issuing the 2023 Surgeon General’s Advisory on Loneliness and Isolation. In his 2025 Parting Prescription for America, he urged a renewal of relationships, service, and purpose.

Murthy now leads The Together Project, a national initiative supported by the Knight Foundation, building practical, community-based models to strengthen social connection. Before entering public service, he co-founded Doctors for America, TrialNetworks, and the Swasthya Project, spanning healthcare reform, medical technology, and community health education.

Today, Vivek Murthy continues to champion a vision of public health rooted in human connection and the bonds that keep societies whole.