When the Dartmouth Class of 2026 gathers on the Green this June, they will be joined by a public health leader who has spent his career treating the “unseen” wounds of the nation.
Dr. Vivek Murthy, first U.S. Surgeon General of Indian descent who served under both presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden, is among seven distinguished individuals selected to receive honorary degrees during the June 14 commencement ceremony of the private Ivy League research university in Hanover, New Hampshire.
Murthy, who will be awarded an honorary Doctor of Science, has long been a trailblazing figure for the Indian American community. Born in Huddersfield, England, to parents who immigrated from Karnataka, India, Murthy often credits his family’s heritage for his approach to medicine.
His parents eventually settled in Miami, Florida, to establish a medical practice where a young Murthy observed how clinical care was inseparable from community connection. His academic path led him through Harvard University and the Yale School of Medicine, but his professional focus consistently returned to the human element of health.
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Murthy has frequently cited the Indian value of Seva, or selfless service, as the driving force behind his two terms as “America’s Doctor.” This cultural foundation informed his groundbreaking work on the “epidemic of loneliness,” a crisis he elevated to a national priority by framing social isolation as a critical physical health risk.
During his service under Obama and Biden administrations, Murthy moved the Surgeon General’s office beyond traditional policy. He addressed modern challenges ranging from health misinformation to the impact of social media on youth mental health.
In 2025, he released a “Parting Prescription for America,” a vision for rebuilding social infrastructure and community as a pathway to national fulfillment.
Dartmouth President Sian Leah Beilock noted that this year’s honorees were selected for having an “outsized impact” on the world. For Murthy, that impact is defined by a shift in the medical paradigm, prioritizing emotional well-being as much as physical fitness.
As he joins a cohort that includes Commencement speaker Rachel Dratch, Murthy’s recognition underscores a legacy of service rooted in the immigrant experience. For the graduates of 2026, his presence represents the power of merging rigorous scientific expertise with the deeply held values of compassion and community.