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Vivek murthy to receive Dartmouth honorary degree
Murthy, the first U.S. Surgeon General of Indian descent, is among seven honorees recognized for contributions across public health, science, and public service.
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Malvika Choudhary - Fri, 01, May 2026
- 14:46 EDT
- 44
Vivek Murthy / Vivek Murthy Website
Dartmouth College will award an honorary Doctor of Science degree to Vivek Murthy at its 2026 Commencement, recognizing his contributions to public health and national service.
Murthy, who served as the 19th and 21st surgeon general of the United States from 2015 to 2017 and again from 2021 to 2025, is among seven individuals selected for honorary degrees this year.
Also Read: Former Surgeon General Vivek Murthy to address Penn graduates
The honorees span fields including the arts, science, diplomacy, philanthropy, and public service.
“These luminaries have had a tremendous impact in their fields and on the world,” Dartmouth president Sian Leah Beilock said.
“They represent excellence in the arts and sciences, the importance of diplomacy and public service, the commitment to public health, and the values of free speech and equal access to educational opportunities. It is our great honor to recognize their accomplishments,” he added.
Murthy is the first surgeon general of Indian descent and was the youngest active-duty flag officer in federal uniformed service during his first term. He also served as a vice admiral in the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, overseeing approximately 6,000 public health officers.
During his tenure, Murthy focused on the public health impacts of loneliness and social isolation, as well as the effects of social media on youth mental health. In 2025, he issued his final report as surgeon general, Parting Prescription for America, outlining a vision centered on rebuilding the community to improve health and well-being.
He co-chaired former President Joe Biden’s COVID-19 Advisory Board between November 2020 and January 2021, alongside David A. Kessler and Marcella Nunez-Smith.
He was later nominated again as surgeon general and confirmed by the U.S. Senate in March 2021. In October 2022, he was nominated as the U.S. representative to the World Health Organization’s executive board.
Following his government service, Murthy founded The Together Project, an initiative aimed at strengthening social connection and community. He also hosts Staying Human, a podcast and Substack platform exploring how technology and societal changes affect relationships and civic life.
He is the author of the 2020 New York Times bestseller Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World.
Murthy was born in Huddersfield, England, to parents of Indian origin from Karnataka. His family later moved to Canada and then to Miami, where he was raised and completed his schooling. He graduated as valedictorian from Miami Palmetto Senior High School in 1994.
He earned a Bachelor of Arts in biochemical sciences from Harvard University in 1997, followed by an MD from Yale School of Medicine and an MBA from Yale School of Management in 2003.
During his time at Yale, he co-founded “The Healer’s Art,” an elective course focused on the human dimensions of medical practice, including coping with loss and preventing physician burnout.
Dartmouth’s Commencement ceremony is scheduled for June 14, with an academic procession at 9 a.m. followed by the ceremony at 9:30 a.m. on the Dartmouth Green.
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