Vivek Murthy
DOCTOR OF HUMAN CONNECTION
Last May, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy issued an advisory about the profound consequences of loneliness and isolation—a departure from the type of standard medical conditions his predecessors prioritized. While traveling the country, Murthy had heard from college students who felt as if no one truly knew them, and patients who didn’t have anyone to pick them up from the hospital. He came to see it as a systemic public-health crisis. In his advisory, he called on governments, community leaders, workplaces, and health systems to help rebuild social connection.
‘Our relationships are the most tangible and powerful way we can manifest generosity and love.’
—VIVEK MURTHY
The loneliness crisis intersects with another public-health threat Murthy has drawn attention to: he also issued an advisory about the effects of social media on youth mental health, pointing out that logging hours on TikTok and Instagram can lead to disordered eating and low self-esteem, especially among adolescent girls. He has pushed policymakers to take steps to strengthen safety standards and promote digital literacy,
