Dr. Vivek H. Murthy, who served as U.S. Surgeon General twice under Obama and Biden administrations has launched The Together Project to combat loneliness and prioritize social connection and community building in America.
Dr. Murthy, who will serve as The Together Project’s Chair, has focused on these issues since his first term as Surgeon General of the United States from 2014 to 2017 under President Barack Obama
In his 2020 book, “Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World,” Dr. Murthy argued that loneliness is more than just an emotional state: it is a public health concern with significant impacts on physical health. He believes that addressing loneliness is a societal priority and calls on leaders in business, education, healthcare and government to cultivate environments that support community and connection.
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During his second term as Surgeon General, Murthy produced the 2023 Surgeon General’s Advisory on the epidemic of loneliness and isolation and the 2025 Parting Prescription for America, in which he offered as a path to health and fulfillment through community.
The Together Project will serve as a national platform to advance this work, launching with the support of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation as its first major philanthropic partner.
A national foundation with deep roots in 26 communities across the United States, Knight Foundation brings a unique blend of local insight and national perspective through investments in public spaces, the arts and local news and journalism to help strengthen civic life and support resilient communities, according to a media release.
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“At Knight, we believe connection and community are essential to a thriving democracy. The Together Project is a bold and timely effort to confront the epidemic of disconnection in our country and to elevate the solutions that are already working. We are proud to support this movement to catalyze community and strengthen our civic fabric—because the power to create change isn’t lost, it’s local,” said Maribel Pérez Wadsworth, President and CEO of Knight Foundation.
With Knight’s support, Murthy will embark on a national listening tour and series of community engagements aimed at lifting up solutions that foster connection, reduce isolation and build social cohesion, the release stated. The initiative will spotlight scalable models that help communities thrive and promote their replication across the country.