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Vivek Murthy to discuss community healing in Philadelphia
According to organizers, the event is part of The Together Project's national listening tour
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Pranavi Sharma - Fri, 12, Jun 2026
- 04:12 EDT
- 36
Vivek Murthy / Wikipedia
Former U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy will join psychologist Angela Duckworth for a public conversation on belonging, loneliness and community at the Parkway Central Library in Philadelphia on June 16.
The event, titled 'Finding Belonging: Dr. Vivek Murthy in Conversation with Angela Duckworth,' is being presented by The Together Project, the Free Library of Philadelphia and the Free Library Foundation. Registration is required, and seating is limited.
Murthy, who served as the 19th and 21st surgeon general of the United States from 2015 to 2017 and again from 2021 to 2025, will discuss the importance of human connection and belonging. He will be joined by Duckworth, a MacArthur Fellow and the Rosa Lee and Egbert Chang Professor at the University of Pennsylvania.
Excited to be at the @FreeLibrary of Philadelphia for a conversation with my friend @vivek_murthy about the human need for connection in today's world.
— Angela Duckworth (@angeladuckw) June 11, 2026
If you're in Philly, please join us!
Registration required, seating is limited. You can register here:… pic.twitter.com/cwnjMtXOR8
According to organizers, the event is part of The Together Project's national listening tour, which is supported by the Knight Foundation as its first major philanthropic partner.
Murthy founded The Together Project after completing his second term as surgeon general. The initiative focuses on strengthening social connection and addressing loneliness through community engagement.
During his tenure as surgeon general, Murthy drew national attention to the public health effects of loneliness and social isolation. He also highlighted concerns about the impact of social media on youth mental health.
In 2025, he issued his final report as surgeon general, 'Parting Prescription for America,' which outlined a vision for improving health and well-being by rebuilding community connections.
Murthy also co-chaired former President Joe Biden's COVID-19 Advisory Board from November 2020 to January 2021 alongside David A. Kessler and Marcella Nunez-Smith. He was later nominated for a second term as surgeon general and confirmed by the 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 launched The Together Project and began hosting 'Staying Human,' a podcast and Substack platform that examines how technology and broader social changes affect relationships and civic life.
Murthy is also the author of the 2020 New York Times bestseller 'Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World.'
The first surgeon general of Indian descent, Murthy was born in Huddersfield, England, to parents of Indian origin from Karnataka. His family later moved to Canada before settling in Miami, where he completed his schooling.
He graduated as valedictorian from Miami Palmetto Senior High School in 1994. He later earned a bachelor's degree in biochemical sciences from Harvard University in 1997 and received both an MD from Yale School of Medicine and an MBA from Yale School of Management in 2003.
While at Yale, Murthy 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.
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