1 00:00:02,880 --> 00:00:06,080 Speaker 1: Dr VIVEK. Morphey is the Surgeon General of the United States, 2 00:00:06,320 --> 00:00:08,920 Speaker 1: a position to which he was appointed by President Biden. 3 00:00:09,320 --> 00:00:12,000 Speaker 1: He previously was appointed and held the same position under 4 00:00:12,039 --> 00:00:14,920 Speaker 1: President Obama. Recently, I had a chance to sit down 5 00:00:14,920 --> 00:00:17,919 Speaker 1: with Dr Morphey discussed a number of health issues affecting 6 00:00:17,920 --> 00:00:21,960 Speaker 1: the United States, including COVID nineteen and mental health. I'm 7 00:00:22,000 --> 00:00:25,599 Speaker 1: here today with Dr VIVEK. Morphy, who is the Surgeon 8 00:00:25,680 --> 00:00:27,920 Speaker 1: General of the United States. Thank you very much for 9 00:00:27,920 --> 00:00:30,360 Speaker 1: giving us this time. Of course, David, I'm glad that 10 00:00:30,400 --> 00:00:33,000 Speaker 1: we're having this conversation. I am sorry that I can't 11 00:00:33,000 --> 00:00:35,200 Speaker 1: do this in person with you, but as you probably heard, 12 00:00:35,280 --> 00:00:37,600 Speaker 1: I did come down with COVID. I managed to dodge 13 00:00:37,600 --> 00:00:40,520 Speaker 1: it for two years. Uh. I don't know what happened, 14 00:00:40,520 --> 00:00:43,120 Speaker 1: but I guess my luck ran out. But is COVID 15 00:00:43,200 --> 00:00:45,400 Speaker 1: still a major problem in the United States? People like 16 00:00:45,440 --> 00:00:48,279 Speaker 1: me are still getting it. Well, David, first time, I'm 17 00:00:48,280 --> 00:00:51,159 Speaker 1: sorry that you have COVID. I from personal experience, I 18 00:00:51,200 --> 00:00:54,360 Speaker 1: know that, uh, you know, can can It's a serious thing, 19 00:00:54,440 --> 00:00:57,400 Speaker 1: and even though you're vaccinated and everything, sometimes you can 20 00:00:57,400 --> 00:00:59,760 Speaker 1: have these break through infections and have mild symptoms. So 21 00:00:59,840 --> 00:01:02,520 Speaker 1: I we should the best in your recovery. But you know, 22 00:01:02,560 --> 00:01:04,800 Speaker 1: as a country, here's where we are. You know, we 23 00:01:04,840 --> 00:01:07,520 Speaker 1: have certainly come a long way in the last couple 24 00:01:07,560 --> 00:01:12,360 Speaker 1: of years. I still remember very clearly in March, when 25 00:01:12,640 --> 00:01:15,080 Speaker 1: more and more people were getting sick, when hospitals were 26 00:01:15,120 --> 00:01:18,000 Speaker 1: starting to fill up. We're seeing terrible scenes from New 27 00:01:18,040 --> 00:01:20,360 Speaker 1: York City in the months that followed UH, and we 28 00:01:20,400 --> 00:01:22,360 Speaker 1: didn't know a lot about the virus, and we didn't 29 00:01:22,400 --> 00:01:25,640 Speaker 1: really have treatments and much less vaccines. Fast forward now 30 00:01:25,760 --> 00:01:28,960 Speaker 1: to you know, a couple of years forward, and we 31 00:01:29,000 --> 00:01:32,600 Speaker 1: actually have these vaccines that are incredibly effective at keeping 32 00:01:32,640 --> 00:01:35,240 Speaker 1: people out of the hospital and saving their lives. Even 33 00:01:35,280 --> 00:01:37,399 Speaker 1: if you do get an infection after a vaccine, again, 34 00:01:37,440 --> 00:01:40,600 Speaker 1: the likelihood of you having a really bad outcome like 35 00:01:40,680 --> 00:01:42,880 Speaker 1: being in the hospital are dying from this virus are 36 00:01:43,000 --> 00:01:45,640 Speaker 1: much much lower. And you combine that with the treatments 37 00:01:45,640 --> 00:01:48,760 Speaker 1: that we now have available, treatments like packs livid UH, 38 00:01:48,760 --> 00:01:52,840 Speaker 1: and you find that most debts in from COVID nineteen 39 00:01:52,840 --> 00:01:55,600 Speaker 1: should be preventable at this point. So that is a 40 00:01:55,640 --> 00:01:58,120 Speaker 1: long way to come from where we were. With that said, 41 00:01:59,040 --> 00:02:01,880 Speaker 1: we are still losing several hundred people three to four 42 00:02:01,920 --> 00:02:05,160 Speaker 1: hundred people a day to COVID nineteen, and they tend 43 00:02:05,200 --> 00:02:07,760 Speaker 1: to be predominantly individuals who are not up to date 44 00:02:07,800 --> 00:02:10,480 Speaker 1: on their vaccines or who haven't received treatment. So we 45 00:02:10,480 --> 00:02:13,120 Speaker 1: still have more work to do, and especially with the 46 00:02:13,160 --> 00:02:15,639 Speaker 1: winter coming, we've seen the last couple of years there's 47 00:02:15,680 --> 00:02:18,440 Speaker 1: been an increase in cases during the winter. So that's 48 00:02:18,440 --> 00:02:20,680 Speaker 1: why we want people to be up to date with 49 00:02:20,720 --> 00:02:23,600 Speaker 1: their vaccines. We've got an updated vaccine right now, in fact, 50 00:02:23,680 --> 00:02:26,800 Speaker 1: that his tailored for the new omicron variant b A five. 51 00:02:27,480 --> 00:02:29,560 Speaker 1: We want people to get that and to make sure 52 00:02:29,560 --> 00:02:33,240 Speaker 1: they have maximal protection when winter comes. Well, let me 53 00:02:33,240 --> 00:02:35,640 Speaker 1: ask you, and the early part of the COVID vaccine 54 00:02:36,000 --> 00:02:39,120 Speaker 1: COVID problem, people were dying in enormous numbers in the 55 00:02:39,160 --> 00:02:41,280 Speaker 1: United States. I think maybe now maybe more than a 56 00:02:41,320 --> 00:02:44,320 Speaker 1: million people have died in the United States, maybe five 57 00:02:44,360 --> 00:02:47,200 Speaker 1: million around the world. Was that in part because they 58 00:02:47,240 --> 00:02:50,400 Speaker 1: weren't vaccinated and the vaccination has made those who get it, 59 00:02:50,480 --> 00:02:52,960 Speaker 1: like me um not as weak as we would have 60 00:02:53,000 --> 00:02:56,600 Speaker 1: been without the vaccination. Yeah, so that's a really good question. 61 00:02:56,720 --> 00:02:59,240 Speaker 1: So early on, before we had a vaccine, you know, 62 00:02:59,240 --> 00:03:01,880 Speaker 1: people didn't have real protection against this virus. They didn't 63 00:03:01,919 --> 00:03:05,160 Speaker 1: have prior infection with COVID nineteen. This is a new 64 00:03:05,680 --> 00:03:09,440 Speaker 1: coronavirus that had emerged on the scene, but now thankfully 65 00:03:09,720 --> 00:03:12,720 Speaker 1: UH those vaccines do give protection against the worst hot 66 00:03:12,720 --> 00:03:15,520 Speaker 1: coms of COVID. And this is actually an important point underscore, 67 00:03:15,560 --> 00:03:17,959 Speaker 1: which is what is the goal of a vaccine. Sometimes 68 00:03:17,960 --> 00:03:19,839 Speaker 1: people think if I get vaccine and then I get sick, 69 00:03:19,880 --> 00:03:22,440 Speaker 1: that means a vaccine didn't work. But it turns out 70 00:03:22,480 --> 00:03:24,520 Speaker 1: the most important goal of the vaccine is to save 71 00:03:24,560 --> 00:03:27,560 Speaker 1: your life, and by that measure, it's actually doing a 72 00:03:27,600 --> 00:03:31,080 Speaker 1: remarkable job to keep the protection that people have. Though 73 00:03:31,160 --> 00:03:34,200 Speaker 1: it's important for them to stay updated with their vaccines, 74 00:03:34,240 --> 00:03:37,000 Speaker 1: and we've seen that over time that the COVID vaccine, 75 00:03:37,040 --> 00:03:40,920 Speaker 1: like many other vaccines, that its effectiveness can wane over time, 76 00:03:40,920 --> 00:03:42,600 Speaker 1: which is why I just like you've got a tetanus 77 00:03:42,600 --> 00:03:45,320 Speaker 1: booster or you've got an annual flu shot, it's important 78 00:03:45,320 --> 00:03:48,160 Speaker 1: to be up to date with your COVID vaccines as well. 79 00:03:48,280 --> 00:03:50,880 Speaker 1: So the bottom line is these are life saving tools 80 00:03:50,880 --> 00:03:53,280 Speaker 1: that we now have, the vaccines and the treatments, and 81 00:03:53,600 --> 00:03:55,960 Speaker 1: by you know, depending on what calculation you look at, 82 00:03:56,040 --> 00:03:59,120 Speaker 1: we have saved hundreds of thousands of lives in the 83 00:03:59,200 --> 00:04:03,160 Speaker 1: United States own because of the vaccination being available and 84 00:04:03,200 --> 00:04:06,360 Speaker 1: the vaccination campaign that was mounted to get people protected. Now, 85 00:04:06,400 --> 00:04:09,240 Speaker 1: did you ever get COVID? I did get COVID. Yes, 86 00:04:09,280 --> 00:04:14,360 Speaker 1: In fact, in earlier this year, in early two, my 87 00:04:14,400 --> 00:04:16,400 Speaker 1: wife and my two kids and I all got COVID 88 00:04:16,480 --> 00:04:19,200 Speaker 1: and we actually know how it happened. It turns out 89 00:04:19,240 --> 00:04:21,919 Speaker 1: my daughter, who was four years old and was in 90 00:04:22,000 --> 00:04:27,080 Speaker 1: pre kindergarten at the time, she ended up catching the 91 00:04:27,160 --> 00:04:30,640 Speaker 1: virus from somebody in her classroom. It's really challenging, you know, 92 00:04:30,680 --> 00:04:33,800 Speaker 1: if you're a family, especially a family with small children, uh, 93 00:04:33,839 --> 00:04:36,400 Speaker 1: to prevent yourself from getting infected, it's worth trying, and 94 00:04:36,440 --> 00:04:39,120 Speaker 1: we certainly did, you know as well. But end of 95 00:04:39,120 --> 00:04:41,320 Speaker 1: the day, you know, you're taking care of your child. 96 00:04:41,320 --> 00:04:43,039 Speaker 1: You've got a hold and comfort them when they're ill, 97 00:04:43,120 --> 00:04:44,880 Speaker 1: and that puts to a red risk, you know, if 98 00:04:44,880 --> 00:04:48,360 Speaker 1: you've got small kids, and many parents have experiences. So 99 00:04:48,800 --> 00:04:51,800 Speaker 1: thankfully we were all uh, you know, vaccinated except my 100 00:04:51,880 --> 00:04:53,839 Speaker 1: daughter at the time. There was not a vaccine yet 101 00:04:54,160 --> 00:04:56,680 Speaker 1: for kids her age, but the rest of us were 102 00:04:56,720 --> 00:04:59,040 Speaker 1: vaccine and thankfully we had a mild course of illness. 103 00:04:59,200 --> 00:05:02,599 Speaker 1: But me you know even more respect, um, for this 104 00:05:02,720 --> 00:05:05,880 Speaker 1: virus is somebody it should be taken seriously, because again, 105 00:05:05,920 --> 00:05:08,120 Speaker 1: even with the protection we had, you know, we were 106 00:05:08,240 --> 00:05:11,000 Speaker 1: knocked out for several days there. Now, did you tell 107 00:05:11,080 --> 00:05:13,159 Speaker 1: your four year old daughter that she had infected the 108 00:05:13,200 --> 00:05:15,800 Speaker 1: Surgeon General of the United States and that she recognized 109 00:05:15,839 --> 00:05:19,440 Speaker 1: the consequences of that. Oh, to my daughter, I'm just 110 00:05:19,760 --> 00:05:22,200 Speaker 1: her dad who she sometimes pays attention to when her 111 00:05:22,200 --> 00:05:25,360 Speaker 1: mom's not around. So I'm not sure she's so aware 112 00:05:25,360 --> 00:05:28,159 Speaker 1: of what I do. But you know, it was also 113 00:05:28,320 --> 00:05:30,520 Speaker 1: to your point, David, it was just a very humanizing moment, 114 00:05:30,600 --> 00:05:33,000 Speaker 1: you know, like I had been working on COVID for 115 00:05:33,360 --> 00:05:35,720 Speaker 1: you know, the better part of you know, a year 116 00:05:36,120 --> 00:05:38,680 Speaker 1: at that point, um, but you know, to to be 117 00:05:38,720 --> 00:05:41,720 Speaker 1: able to go through uh this you know, experience as well, 118 00:05:41,880 --> 00:05:45,080 Speaker 1: just giving giving even more understanding and empathy for folks 119 00:05:45,080 --> 00:05:47,320 Speaker 1: out there who are not just getting sick, but who 120 00:05:47,360 --> 00:05:50,840 Speaker 1: are trying to manage their family responsibilities while they're ill. 121 00:05:50,880 --> 00:05:53,320 Speaker 1: Whether it's getting their kids, you know, you know, you know, 122 00:05:53,400 --> 00:05:55,680 Speaker 1: it to school, whether it's making sure that they're managing work, 123 00:05:55,680 --> 00:05:59,160 Speaker 1: whether it's taking care of elderly relatives. The ripple effects 124 00:05:59,279 --> 00:06:01,760 Speaker 1: of getting sick are significant and uh, and that was 125 00:06:01,800 --> 00:06:04,280 Speaker 1: certainly something that I have kept with me ever since 126 00:06:04,320 --> 00:06:06,039 Speaker 1: I was ill. Let me ask you about what it 127 00:06:06,080 --> 00:06:08,360 Speaker 1: means to be the Surgeon General of the United States. 128 00:06:08,640 --> 00:06:12,720 Speaker 1: You're not a surgeon and you're not a general, So 129 00:06:12,800 --> 00:06:14,839 Speaker 1: why are you called the surgeon general? What is the 130 00:06:14,839 --> 00:06:17,400 Speaker 1: surgeon General's job? And one of the jobs of the 131 00:06:17,440 --> 00:06:19,599 Speaker 1: surgeon General, and the reason in fact why I wear 132 00:06:19,920 --> 00:06:23,119 Speaker 1: this uniform, is to oversee the US Public Health Service 133 00:06:23,120 --> 00:06:25,880 Speaker 1: Commission Corps. This is one of the eight uniformed services 134 00:06:26,160 --> 00:06:29,200 Speaker 1: in the United States government. It consists of six thousand 135 00:06:29,240 --> 00:06:32,240 Speaker 1: officers who are dedicated to improving public health each and 136 00:06:32,240 --> 00:06:35,080 Speaker 1: every day in their day jobs. But we also deploy 137 00:06:35,160 --> 00:06:38,320 Speaker 1: them during times of emergency, so we send them with 138 00:06:38,440 --> 00:06:41,720 Speaker 1: their hurricanes and tornadoes that hit towns, we will send 139 00:06:41,760 --> 00:06:45,320 Speaker 1: officers there to help provide basic care, and routinely during 140 00:06:45,320 --> 00:06:48,359 Speaker 1: COVID nineteen, we've deployed thousands of officers to help with 141 00:06:48,400 --> 00:06:51,680 Speaker 1: everything from vaccinations to supporting health care systems. So that 142 00:06:51,800 --> 00:06:54,359 Speaker 1: is one of the jobs of the Surgeon General. The 143 00:06:54,440 --> 00:06:58,880 Speaker 1: other job, though, is to inform the public about critical 144 00:06:58,920 --> 00:07:00,919 Speaker 1: public health issues that are rise and this could be 145 00:07:00,960 --> 00:07:03,600 Speaker 1: informing them about how to prevent, uh, if you yourself 146 00:07:03,600 --> 00:07:06,240 Speaker 1: from getting sick, how to manage an illness when it arises. 147 00:07:06,520 --> 00:07:08,800 Speaker 1: Certainly with COVID that has been an important part of 148 00:07:08,800 --> 00:07:12,120 Speaker 1: my work, but increasingly my focus has been on the 149 00:07:12,240 --> 00:07:15,280 Speaker 1: broader issues of mental health and well being, which have 150 00:07:15,520 --> 00:07:17,960 Speaker 1: taken a hard hit during the COVID pandemic, but which 151 00:07:17,960 --> 00:07:20,600 Speaker 1: we're real struggle for a country. Even before then, you 152 00:07:20,680 --> 00:07:25,480 Speaker 1: were the surgeon General under President Obama, and you served 153 00:07:25,560 --> 00:07:28,120 Speaker 1: under President Obama and did a very good job. I'll 154 00:07:28,120 --> 00:07:30,920 Speaker 1: talk about that in the moment. And then uh, President 155 00:07:30,920 --> 00:07:34,840 Speaker 1: Obama left the office after eight years, and President Biden 156 00:07:34,880 --> 00:07:37,720 Speaker 1: came in four years later, and then he asked you 157 00:07:37,760 --> 00:07:40,800 Speaker 1: to be surgeon general again. Did you tell him you've 158 00:07:40,840 --> 00:07:42,800 Speaker 1: already done that job once and why did you want 159 00:07:42,800 --> 00:07:45,640 Speaker 1: to do it again? And were you surprised that that 160 00:07:45,640 --> 00:07:48,920 Speaker 1: that they wanted you to do the same job again. Well, 161 00:07:49,000 --> 00:07:51,920 Speaker 1: got it's an interesting question. I certainly had not planned 162 00:07:52,360 --> 00:07:54,920 Speaker 1: to come back and serve as Surgeon General again. I 163 00:07:55,600 --> 00:07:57,400 Speaker 1: you know, I had always told myself when I had 164 00:07:57,400 --> 00:07:59,040 Speaker 1: the privilege of serving the first time, that this is 165 00:07:59,080 --> 00:08:01,120 Speaker 1: a once in a lifetime and experience. I didn't know 166 00:08:01,160 --> 00:08:03,120 Speaker 1: it would be a twice in a lifetime experience. But 167 00:08:03,200 --> 00:08:06,080 Speaker 1: you know, the pandemic really scrambled everyone's lives, including mine. 168 00:08:06,280 --> 00:08:09,200 Speaker 1: While it wasn't in a difficult decision when he asked 169 00:08:09,200 --> 00:08:11,480 Speaker 1: me to serve, and it was certainly a big decision, 170 00:08:11,800 --> 00:08:14,280 Speaker 1: had big implications for my family, certainly, and I was 171 00:08:14,320 --> 00:08:16,840 Speaker 1: aware of that having served the time before. But I'll 172 00:08:16,840 --> 00:08:18,800 Speaker 1: tell you, David, it was one of those moments where 173 00:08:19,560 --> 00:08:21,640 Speaker 1: and the throes of a crisis that was up ending 174 00:08:21,720 --> 00:08:24,360 Speaker 1: our country in the world. You know, I felt that 175 00:08:24,720 --> 00:08:28,120 Speaker 1: it was my responsibility and our collective responsibilities to all 176 00:08:28,360 --> 00:08:30,800 Speaker 1: do as much as we could to address this crisis. 177 00:08:30,800 --> 00:08:33,600 Speaker 1: I was being given an opportunity to uh serve and 178 00:08:33,640 --> 00:08:35,840 Speaker 1: hopefully to help, you know, at a larger scale, and 179 00:08:35,880 --> 00:08:37,880 Speaker 1: I wanted to to make sure I did that. What 180 00:08:38,040 --> 00:08:39,920 Speaker 1: was in the head my head at that time, David, 181 00:08:40,080 --> 00:08:43,000 Speaker 1: was really the voice of my my parents and really 182 00:08:43,080 --> 00:08:44,960 Speaker 1: the example that they had set for me when I 183 00:08:45,000 --> 00:08:47,440 Speaker 1: was growing up, which they set again more through what 184 00:08:47,520 --> 00:08:49,840 Speaker 1: they did rather than what they said. But they had 185 00:08:49,840 --> 00:08:51,760 Speaker 1: always sort of taught me through their actions. And whenever 186 00:08:51,800 --> 00:08:55,520 Speaker 1: your community is in need, it is our responsibilities to 187 00:08:55,559 --> 00:08:57,280 Speaker 1: step up and do as much as we can. It 188 00:08:57,360 --> 00:08:59,080 Speaker 1: might only be a little that we can do in 189 00:08:59,120 --> 00:09:01,240 Speaker 1: that moment, but all of us have to step up 190 00:09:01,800 --> 00:09:04,360 Speaker 1: and serve in some way. So let's talk about your 191 00:09:04,400 --> 00:09:07,200 Speaker 1: parents and your background. Where did you grow up. I 192 00:09:07,240 --> 00:09:09,960 Speaker 1: grew up in Miami, Florida, will move there when I 193 00:09:10,040 --> 00:09:12,840 Speaker 1: was three years old. I went to public schools, you know, 194 00:09:12,880 --> 00:09:17,520 Speaker 1: all throughout through high school, and my parents they ran 195 00:09:17,559 --> 00:09:20,800 Speaker 1: a medical practice there that my uh dad mom had 196 00:09:20,800 --> 00:09:23,400 Speaker 1: set up when I was in elementary school and uh 197 00:09:23,440 --> 00:09:25,520 Speaker 1: and that sort of was a pivotal, uh sort of 198 00:09:25,520 --> 00:09:27,080 Speaker 1: experience for me because I spent a lot of time 199 00:09:27,080 --> 00:09:29,360 Speaker 1: there as a kid, and it shaped my excitement and 200 00:09:29,400 --> 00:09:32,760 Speaker 1: interest for pursuing medicine later in life. And we're both 201 00:09:32,800 --> 00:09:36,240 Speaker 1: your parents medical doctors. So my father is a doctor. 202 00:09:36,320 --> 00:09:39,320 Speaker 1: He's a family medicine doctor. My mother actually did her 203 00:09:39,360 --> 00:09:42,520 Speaker 1: degree in English literature. But we like to say that 204 00:09:42,600 --> 00:09:46,439 Speaker 1: she's an inherent healer herself because it comes naturally to her. 205 00:09:46,480 --> 00:09:49,200 Speaker 1: And as somebody who ran my dad's clinic for many 206 00:09:49,280 --> 00:09:51,800 Speaker 1: years there, the patients and the clinic all came to 207 00:09:51,840 --> 00:09:54,559 Speaker 1: know her and to trust her. So did you always 208 00:09:54,600 --> 00:09:56,400 Speaker 1: want to be a doctor when you were in elementary 209 00:09:56,440 --> 00:09:59,199 Speaker 1: school in high school, did you know that was your calling? Well, 210 00:09:59,360 --> 00:10:01,520 Speaker 1: I was really in fired by my parents early on 211 00:10:01,920 --> 00:10:03,960 Speaker 1: to become a doctor, and that's you know, for much 212 00:10:03,960 --> 00:10:06,880 Speaker 1: of grade school, that was pretty clear that that's what 213 00:10:06,960 --> 00:10:08,960 Speaker 1: I wanted to do. But towards the end of high 214 00:10:08,960 --> 00:10:11,520 Speaker 1: school things changed a little bit. I started to get 215 00:10:11,559 --> 00:10:15,040 Speaker 1: really interested in English literature. I got really interested in 216 00:10:15,120 --> 00:10:17,559 Speaker 1: history and in economics as well, and I went to 217 00:10:17,720 --> 00:10:20,120 Speaker 1: college thinking that I might want to pursue something in 218 00:10:20,120 --> 00:10:22,599 Speaker 1: one of those three fields. So I took classes and 219 00:10:22,760 --> 00:10:25,440 Speaker 1: you know, in economics and in history and was you know, 220 00:10:25,640 --> 00:10:27,800 Speaker 1: really trying to get a sense of whether that would 221 00:10:27,800 --> 00:10:30,160 Speaker 1: be my path. But what happened actually in between was 222 00:10:30,240 --> 00:10:33,000 Speaker 1: interesting that shifted things for me, which is that my 223 00:10:33,120 --> 00:10:36,440 Speaker 1: freshman year, my father called me and he said, you know, 224 00:10:36,480 --> 00:10:40,080 Speaker 1: there's this philanthropist who is looking for a cause that 225 00:10:40,120 --> 00:10:42,079 Speaker 1: he wants to support, but he doesn't know what the causes. 226 00:10:42,520 --> 00:10:44,080 Speaker 1: So he said, if you have any ideas that you 227 00:10:44,080 --> 00:10:46,280 Speaker 1: want to work on, there may be an opportunity for 228 00:10:46,320 --> 00:10:49,760 Speaker 1: you to build something with his support. And I thought 229 00:10:49,760 --> 00:10:51,480 Speaker 1: about it, and I had actually been working on some 230 00:10:51,640 --> 00:10:54,640 Speaker 1: HIV projects when I was in high school and had 231 00:10:54,679 --> 00:10:57,240 Speaker 1: been visiting India, where my family is originally from, and 232 00:10:57,600 --> 00:11:01,079 Speaker 1: realized actually after high school that the crisis was really exploding. 233 00:11:01,400 --> 00:11:04,000 Speaker 1: So my sister and I ended up developing an idea 234 00:11:04,120 --> 00:11:08,240 Speaker 1: to build a education program around HIV in India that 235 00:11:08,280 --> 00:11:11,360 Speaker 1: would be a peer education program. This is it's commonplace now. 236 00:11:11,480 --> 00:11:14,320 Speaker 1: Is more unusual then, but the idea of bringing UH 237 00:11:14,360 --> 00:11:16,880 Speaker 1: you know, peers together and training them to actually go 238 00:11:16,960 --> 00:11:19,800 Speaker 1: out and and inform college and high school students around 239 00:11:20,000 --> 00:11:23,120 Speaker 1: the community was novel then in India, but it's something 240 00:11:23,120 --> 00:11:24,839 Speaker 1: that we decided to be wanted to try to build, 241 00:11:25,240 --> 00:11:27,480 Speaker 1: and that was the project we ultimately we're able to 242 00:11:27,520 --> 00:11:30,280 Speaker 1: get funding for UH. We built that, ran it for 243 00:11:30,360 --> 00:11:33,120 Speaker 1: eight years, built chapters around India and the United States 244 00:11:33,120 --> 00:11:36,000 Speaker 1: as well, and that changed my perception and my my 245 00:11:36,040 --> 00:11:37,680 Speaker 1: feeling about what I wanted to do in the world. 246 00:11:37,760 --> 00:11:40,199 Speaker 1: And it brought me back to health and to wanting 247 00:11:40,240 --> 00:11:42,760 Speaker 1: to not only become a doctor, but to to build 248 00:11:42,840 --> 00:11:46,360 Speaker 1: programs and communities that would hopefully have a large, scalable 249 00:11:46,400 --> 00:11:49,160 Speaker 1: impact on public health. I assume you were a reasonably 250 00:11:49,200 --> 00:11:51,400 Speaker 1: good student in high school. I think you were valegatory 251 00:11:51,480 --> 00:11:54,600 Speaker 1: and of your classes at right. Yes, guilty is charged, 252 00:11:55,120 --> 00:11:56,880 Speaker 1: and so did you want to go to Harvard? Was 253 00:11:56,920 --> 00:11:58,760 Speaker 1: at your first choice? Which is where you went to 254 00:11:59,080 --> 00:12:02,360 Speaker 1: the school? Cool reason actually came to learn a little 255 00:12:02,360 --> 00:12:04,520 Speaker 1: bit about Harvard is I had my best friend in 256 00:12:04,600 --> 00:12:07,920 Speaker 1: high school, Miriam. Miriam went to this, Uh, she was 257 00:12:08,000 --> 00:12:10,360 Speaker 1: interested in going to this summer school program at Harvard. 258 00:12:10,520 --> 00:12:12,360 Speaker 1: We all end up going to this Harvard summer school 259 00:12:12,360 --> 00:12:14,840 Speaker 1: program between junior and senior year and it was a 260 00:12:14,880 --> 00:12:18,040 Speaker 1: really wonderful experience. But that's what actually made me think, hey, 261 00:12:18,080 --> 00:12:20,000 Speaker 1: maybe this would be a great place to come to 262 00:12:20,080 --> 00:12:23,440 Speaker 1: college if I'm lucky enough to have the opportunity. So, uh, 263 00:12:23,480 --> 00:12:25,719 Speaker 1: that's why I applied to Harvard. I was fortunate to 264 00:12:26,120 --> 00:12:29,280 Speaker 1: be given an opportunity to attend uh, and I had 265 00:12:29,280 --> 00:12:31,520 Speaker 1: a great experience there. And then after Harvard, you went 266 00:12:31,559 --> 00:12:34,760 Speaker 1: to medical school at Yale? I did? I did? Yeah? 267 00:12:35,040 --> 00:12:36,640 Speaker 1: And how did you happen to pick Yale was a 268 00:12:36,640 --> 00:12:40,319 Speaker 1: place to go? You got tired of Cambridge? Well, this 269 00:12:40,400 --> 00:12:44,839 Speaker 1: is this is also an interesting experience. It was you know, 270 00:12:44,920 --> 00:12:47,080 Speaker 1: I actually wanted to go to Harvard Medical School because 271 00:12:47,080 --> 00:12:49,000 Speaker 1: I was doing research there when I was in college 272 00:12:49,040 --> 00:12:52,400 Speaker 1: and I had you know, I just decided for myself 273 00:12:52,440 --> 00:12:54,719 Speaker 1: that that was the right place for me to be. Um, 274 00:12:54,720 --> 00:12:57,480 Speaker 1: even though I didn't have exposured other institutions, and UM, 275 00:12:57,760 --> 00:13:00,439 Speaker 1: it turned out I did not get into Harvard Medical School. Uh, 276 00:13:00,480 --> 00:13:03,040 Speaker 1: and I was I still remember that coming home on 277 00:13:03,080 --> 00:13:05,960 Speaker 1: this day and opening the letter and seeing that it 278 00:13:06,000 --> 00:13:08,960 Speaker 1: was a rejection, and I was so crushed. And I 279 00:13:09,040 --> 00:13:12,400 Speaker 1: called my father and he said, UM. He said to me, 280 00:13:12,440 --> 00:13:14,120 Speaker 1: He's like, I know you're really upset about this, but 281 00:13:14,440 --> 00:13:17,079 Speaker 1: something good will come of this because you'll be able 282 00:13:17,120 --> 00:13:19,840 Speaker 1: to go somewhere else and get a different kind of exposure. 283 00:13:19,880 --> 00:13:21,760 Speaker 1: This is going to help you grow. And I was 284 00:13:22,040 --> 00:13:25,200 Speaker 1: fortunate to, you know, be given a chance to attend Yale. 285 00:13:25,320 --> 00:13:27,800 Speaker 1: It became one of the most powerful educational experiences of 286 00:13:27,800 --> 00:13:29,640 Speaker 1: my life, not just because of what I learned in 287 00:13:29,679 --> 00:13:32,559 Speaker 1: the classroom, but because of these incredible relationships that I 288 00:13:32,679 --> 00:13:34,640 Speaker 1: built at this community that I was part of, and 289 00:13:34,640 --> 00:13:36,480 Speaker 1: then I continue to still feel like I'm a part of, 290 00:13:36,520 --> 00:13:38,960 Speaker 1: even many years after the fact. So have you ever 291 00:13:39,000 --> 00:13:41,800 Speaker 1: seen the admissions officer from Harvard Medical School and told 292 00:13:41,840 --> 00:13:46,280 Speaker 1: him that he missed on the two times Surgeon General? Oh? God, No, no, 293 00:13:46,440 --> 00:13:49,240 Speaker 1: I haven't, but I know that there's Look, there's a 294 00:13:49,280 --> 00:13:52,760 Speaker 1: degree of randomness number one to admissions processes. And I 295 00:13:52,800 --> 00:13:55,720 Speaker 1: always uh tell young people now who are going to 296 00:13:55,760 --> 00:13:58,360 Speaker 1: school that you should never like assume that whether or 297 00:13:58,360 --> 00:14:00,000 Speaker 1: not you get into school or not as a measure 298 00:14:00,120 --> 00:14:03,240 Speaker 1: of your worth and your value because again, having now 299 00:14:03,280 --> 00:14:05,920 Speaker 1: served on admissions committees, I know that there's a degree 300 00:14:05,920 --> 00:14:07,800 Speaker 1: of randomness. They are good people who don't get in 301 00:14:07,880 --> 00:14:10,560 Speaker 1: and there uh you know, and and that's just the 302 00:14:10,640 --> 00:14:12,480 Speaker 1: way it is. And many people, when you're a class 303 00:14:12,559 --> 00:14:15,480 Speaker 1: at Harvard went into something also important called private equity. 304 00:14:16,000 --> 00:14:18,960 Speaker 1: You were never tempted by that. Well, you know, I 305 00:14:19,000 --> 00:14:22,200 Speaker 1: was interested in in a lot of things, David. You know, 306 00:14:22,240 --> 00:14:24,680 Speaker 1: after I finished my residency program, I actually ended up 307 00:14:24,720 --> 00:14:28,200 Speaker 1: taking uh some time and building a company and technology 308 00:14:28,200 --> 00:14:30,840 Speaker 1: company that I ran for with some colleagues for about 309 00:14:30,880 --> 00:14:35,000 Speaker 1: seven years to help use technology to actually advance uh 310 00:14:35,080 --> 00:14:38,280 Speaker 1: clinical research and clinical trials in particular. So I've always 311 00:14:38,280 --> 00:14:41,680 Speaker 1: had an interest you know, in uh in building businesses 312 00:14:41,720 --> 00:14:44,280 Speaker 1: and in building taking innovations that could actually help people 313 00:14:44,320 --> 00:14:46,760 Speaker 1: and bring them to scale. Uh. So you know, who 314 00:14:46,760 --> 00:14:49,600 Speaker 1: knows what the future holds, but uh uh and maybe 315 00:14:49,600 --> 00:14:51,440 Speaker 1: one day I'll come get some advice from you, David. 316 00:14:51,520 --> 00:14:53,840 Speaker 1: What advice would you have for a young person who 317 00:14:53,840 --> 00:14:55,840 Speaker 1: says I want to inspire to a career like yours. 318 00:14:56,240 --> 00:14:59,080 Speaker 1: Find a problem that you care about and try to 319 00:14:59,080 --> 00:15:01,360 Speaker 1: help address it in whatever small way you can. You've 320 00:15:01,360 --> 00:15:03,800 Speaker 1: been the Surgeon General twice, but what would you like 321 00:15:03,840 --> 00:15:06,240 Speaker 1: to see as the legacy that you leave behind for 322 00:15:06,360 --> 00:15:10,160 Speaker 1: future surgeon generals or further people generally what you've done 323 00:15:10,160 --> 00:15:14,760 Speaker 1: with your life. Gosh, that's a great question, David. Um. 324 00:15:14,800 --> 00:15:17,680 Speaker 1: I'll tell you what my greatest concern is. Where I 325 00:15:17,720 --> 00:15:22,640 Speaker 1: hope to make the greatest contribution UM is actually more 326 00:15:22,680 --> 00:15:25,440 Speaker 1: around the core set of values that we build and 327 00:15:25,520 --> 00:15:28,480 Speaker 1: design society around in our lives around UH. And this 328 00:15:28,760 --> 00:15:30,360 Speaker 1: is a very personal thing for me because I think 329 00:15:30,360 --> 00:15:32,480 Speaker 1: about my two children, David, and about the world they're 330 00:15:32,480 --> 00:15:35,520 Speaker 1: growing up in, and I, like many other parents, UM, 331 00:15:35,520 --> 00:15:38,480 Speaker 1: worry at times. I look at the vitriol and the 332 00:15:38,520 --> 00:15:41,080 Speaker 1: polarization and so much of the hatred in our world, 333 00:15:41,120 --> 00:15:43,400 Speaker 1: and I ask myself, is my child going to grow 334 00:15:43,440 --> 00:15:46,800 Speaker 1: up in a world where people are kind, where they're embracing, 335 00:15:46,800 --> 00:15:50,640 Speaker 1: where they don't condemn my child because they made one mistake, UM, 336 00:15:50,680 --> 00:15:52,360 Speaker 1: but they give them a chance and given the benefit 337 00:15:52,360 --> 00:15:56,240 Speaker 1: of the doubt. We need to build a society David, 338 00:15:56,280 --> 00:15:59,840 Speaker 1: that is firmly grounded in kindness and compassion and in 339 00:16:00,000 --> 00:16:02,000 Speaker 1: of and we need to build our workplace culture is 340 00:16:02,040 --> 00:16:04,800 Speaker 1: to reflect that. We need to build our education systems 341 00:16:04,840 --> 00:16:08,080 Speaker 1: to support that. And we need to also support parents 342 00:16:08,520 --> 00:16:10,520 Speaker 1: because they are really struggling right now. Is they seek 343 00:16:10,560 --> 00:16:13,480 Speaker 1: to give, you know, support on a foundation for well 344 00:16:13,520 --> 00:16:15,960 Speaker 1: being to their kids. So my hope going forward, if 345 00:16:15,960 --> 00:16:19,440 Speaker 1: there's anything I could contribute to, it would be to 346 00:16:19,560 --> 00:16:22,680 Speaker 1: emphasizing and underscoring those values as we seek to redesign 347 00:16:22,720 --> 00:16:24,960 Speaker 1: our lives in society. We have a once in a 348 00:16:25,040 --> 00:16:29,240 Speaker 1: generation opportunity David, in this pandemic, when people are taking 349 00:16:29,360 --> 00:16:32,120 Speaker 1: stock of their lives and re and ask themselfs a 350 00:16:32,200 --> 00:16:33,520 Speaker 1: question what kind of world do I really want to 351 00:16:33,520 --> 00:16:35,960 Speaker 1: live in? We have a chance to go back and 352 00:16:36,000 --> 00:16:38,200 Speaker 1: to say, hey, what can we tweak in our lives? 353 00:16:38,200 --> 00:16:40,520 Speaker 1: How do we want to recenter our lives around a 354 00:16:40,600 --> 00:16:42,920 Speaker 1: core set of values? Is our chance to build a 355 00:16:42,960 --> 00:16:45,440 Speaker 1: better life and a better world, uh than we had 356 00:16:45,520 --> 00:16:48,400 Speaker 1: pre pandemic for us, but also for today. What do 357 00:16:48,440 --> 00:16:51,640 Speaker 1: you consider the biggest health challenge facing the United States 358 00:16:52,080 --> 00:16:55,240 Speaker 1: and the people in the United States? You know, It's 359 00:16:55,240 --> 00:16:57,560 Speaker 1: a great question. I mean, there are so many challenges 360 00:16:57,600 --> 00:17:00,280 Speaker 1: we're dealing with. Obviously, we're still dealing with the ndemic, 361 00:17:00,360 --> 00:17:03,120 Speaker 1: and we need to be make sure that we're prepared 362 00:17:03,160 --> 00:17:05,560 Speaker 1: for the next one that may come down the line. 363 00:17:05,680 --> 00:17:08,240 Speaker 1: We have a whole bevy of chronic illnesses that people 364 00:17:08,280 --> 00:17:11,199 Speaker 1: are struggling with, from obesity to heart disease. But the 365 00:17:11,240 --> 00:17:15,160 Speaker 1: one that's actually most on my mind, uh and which 366 00:17:15,200 --> 00:17:17,719 Speaker 1: I'm most deeply concerned about, that I see as foundational 367 00:17:17,800 --> 00:17:20,399 Speaker 1: to our health, is actually the mental health crisis that 368 00:17:20,480 --> 00:17:23,160 Speaker 1: we have in our country. It turns out that when 369 00:17:23,160 --> 00:17:26,119 Speaker 1: you struggle with your mental health, uh as certainly I 370 00:17:26,160 --> 00:17:28,399 Speaker 1: have at points in my life, and I've taken care 371 00:17:28,440 --> 00:17:30,199 Speaker 1: of many patients over the years who struggle with their 372 00:17:30,200 --> 00:17:32,480 Speaker 1: mental health. But when you struggle with your mental health, 373 00:17:32,560 --> 00:17:35,359 Speaker 1: it doesn't just impact how you feel. It impacts your 374 00:17:35,359 --> 00:17:38,399 Speaker 1: physical health as well. It impacts how you show up 375 00:17:38,400 --> 00:17:41,919 Speaker 1: at work. I can impact productivity, absentee is um in 376 00:17:41,960 --> 00:17:45,080 Speaker 1: the workplace, and also impacts how our children perform in 377 00:17:45,119 --> 00:17:48,679 Speaker 1: school and how they learn, and so however you cut it, 378 00:17:48,720 --> 00:17:50,600 Speaker 1: I think of our mental health is the fuel that 379 00:17:50,640 --> 00:17:53,639 Speaker 1: allows us to show up for our family and friends 380 00:17:53,720 --> 00:17:56,400 Speaker 1: for you know, our community, and when our mental health 381 00:17:56,480 --> 00:18:00,840 Speaker 1: is negatively impacted, it compromises, uh, you know, all those fronts, 382 00:18:01,400 --> 00:18:02,960 Speaker 1: and that's what we're dealing with right now. You know, 383 00:18:02,960 --> 00:18:05,400 Speaker 1: if you look at the numbers, uh, David, they're they're 384 00:18:05,440 --> 00:18:08,639 Speaker 1: really staggering, especially among youth, you know, right. You know, 385 00:18:08,800 --> 00:18:11,879 Speaker 1: if you look at the population overall, about five of 386 00:18:11,880 --> 00:18:16,800 Speaker 1: people in twenty had suicidal ideations, they contemplated taking their 387 00:18:16,800 --> 00:18:19,439 Speaker 1: own life. You look at kids in particular, and you 388 00:18:19,480 --> 00:18:21,560 Speaker 1: see that there was a fifty seven percent increase in 389 00:18:21,560 --> 00:18:25,320 Speaker 1: the suicide rate in the ten years preceding the pandemic, 390 00:18:25,400 --> 00:18:27,800 Speaker 1: and things have gotten more challenging for many kids now. 391 00:18:27,800 --> 00:18:29,840 Speaker 1: When I worked in the White House for President Carter, 392 00:18:30,280 --> 00:18:33,679 Speaker 1: his wife roseland Carter headed a mental health task force, 393 00:18:34,400 --> 00:18:36,879 Speaker 1: and it was seen at the time as somewhat unusual 394 00:18:37,160 --> 00:18:39,520 Speaker 1: for a first lady to be interested in that subject, 395 00:18:40,240 --> 00:18:42,439 Speaker 1: and in part she had always been interested in it, 396 00:18:42,720 --> 00:18:46,320 Speaker 1: and she recognized her was a stigma attached to mental health. 397 00:18:46,680 --> 00:18:49,800 Speaker 1: Now we're forty five years later. But do you think 398 00:18:49,840 --> 00:18:52,840 Speaker 1: there's still a stigma attached to mental health as opposed 399 00:18:52,880 --> 00:18:56,840 Speaker 1: to physical health problems? Well? I do, David. I think 400 00:18:56,840 --> 00:19:00,439 Speaker 1: It's gotten better, certainly than it was years ago, but 401 00:19:00,640 --> 00:19:03,480 Speaker 1: I still see that stigma all the time. I see 402 00:19:03,480 --> 00:19:06,400 Speaker 1: it one in the conversations I have with people, especially 403 00:19:06,560 --> 00:19:10,480 Speaker 1: it's a stronger stigma in my generation and older generations. 404 00:19:10,600 --> 00:19:13,320 Speaker 1: Younger generations are less affected by it, but there too, 405 00:19:13,600 --> 00:19:17,040 Speaker 1: I still see a reluctance to talk about uh, you know, 406 00:19:17,080 --> 00:19:19,439 Speaker 1: needing help and about being a bullied or being the 407 00:19:19,480 --> 00:19:23,480 Speaker 1: victim of abuse, which contributes to mental health struggles. But 408 00:19:23,520 --> 00:19:25,000 Speaker 1: the other piece I think it's important is it's not 409 00:19:25,080 --> 00:19:28,200 Speaker 1: just in our words and actions that I see that stigma. 410 00:19:28,280 --> 00:19:30,600 Speaker 1: I see it actually structurally as well. You look at 411 00:19:30,640 --> 00:19:34,360 Speaker 1: how we reimburse for mental health care in in our country, 412 00:19:34,440 --> 00:19:37,720 Speaker 1: and despite passing in two thousand and eight a mental 413 00:19:37,760 --> 00:19:41,320 Speaker 1: health parity law, that law has been unevenly enforced and 414 00:19:41,320 --> 00:19:43,680 Speaker 1: it needs to be stronger. So it's harder for people 415 00:19:43,680 --> 00:19:46,080 Speaker 1: to actually get mental health care in our system than 416 00:19:46,119 --> 00:19:48,439 Speaker 1: it is for them to get you know, care for 417 00:19:48,480 --> 00:19:50,679 Speaker 1: their physical health issues. So we we still have a 418 00:19:50,680 --> 00:19:52,800 Speaker 1: long way to go to close that gap. Are there 419 00:19:52,800 --> 00:19:56,639 Speaker 1: mental health problems with people at work? In other words, um, 420 00:19:56,960 --> 00:19:59,640 Speaker 1: if you're working remotely, are you going to be more 421 00:19:59,720 --> 00:20:01,800 Speaker 1: lone and is that going to cause a bigger problem? 422 00:20:01,800 --> 00:20:03,520 Speaker 1: And do you think it's better for the mental health 423 00:20:03,520 --> 00:20:05,880 Speaker 1: of people to actually be coming back to the offices 424 00:20:05,920 --> 00:20:08,359 Speaker 1: and so forth. Oh, this is such a good question. 425 00:20:08,440 --> 00:20:11,080 Speaker 1: And I do think that our workplaces have a really 426 00:20:11,080 --> 00:20:13,479 Speaker 1: powerful effect on our mental health and well being. It's 427 00:20:13,520 --> 00:20:15,920 Speaker 1: one of the reasons I just issued a Surgeon General's 428 00:20:15,960 --> 00:20:19,640 Speaker 1: Framework on Workplace Mental Health and well Being because right now, 429 00:20:19,880 --> 00:20:21,760 Speaker 1: you know, almost eighty percent of people are saying there's 430 00:20:21,760 --> 00:20:24,359 Speaker 1: some aspect of the workplace that is contributing negatively to 431 00:20:24,359 --> 00:20:27,840 Speaker 1: their mental health and well being. But in around people 432 00:20:27,840 --> 00:20:30,160 Speaker 1: actually want to find a workplace that supports mental health. 433 00:20:30,200 --> 00:20:33,040 Speaker 1: So this is our chance to really figure out how 434 00:20:33,080 --> 00:20:35,840 Speaker 1: to make workplaces engines for mental health and well being. 435 00:20:35,840 --> 00:20:38,000 Speaker 1: And I've laid out a strategy for how to do that. 436 00:20:38,160 --> 00:20:40,080 Speaker 1: But when it comes to working from home, this is 437 00:20:40,080 --> 00:20:43,160 Speaker 1: an important consideration. There's some benefits to people from working 438 00:20:43,200 --> 00:20:46,119 Speaker 1: from home. Uh, they can actually be there more for 439 00:20:46,160 --> 00:20:49,040 Speaker 1: their family. They can many people can actually be home 440 00:20:49,680 --> 00:20:52,320 Speaker 1: for for dinner time or drop their kids off from school. 441 00:20:52,320 --> 00:20:54,280 Speaker 1: They're not spending as much time commuting, they can have 442 00:20:54,320 --> 00:20:57,080 Speaker 1: more time with family and friends. That's an important positive 443 00:20:57,880 --> 00:21:00,280 Speaker 1: on the downside, when you know it might it's harder, 444 00:21:00,280 --> 00:21:03,600 Speaker 1: I think, to connect with your coworkers when you're not 445 00:21:03,960 --> 00:21:06,240 Speaker 1: having some in person time. So there's a balance to 446 00:21:06,280 --> 00:21:08,800 Speaker 1: be struck here, and what I suggest that workplaces you 447 00:21:08,880 --> 00:21:12,000 Speaker 1: often is to have conversations with your employees about how 448 00:21:12,040 --> 00:21:14,640 Speaker 1: to strike that balance, about how to have some time 449 00:21:14,680 --> 00:21:17,160 Speaker 1: where they may be able to gather in person, to 450 00:21:17,160 --> 00:21:19,720 Speaker 1: to collaborate, to come to no one each other more deeply, 451 00:21:19,760 --> 00:21:23,840 Speaker 1: to build stronger working relationships that in person time is invaluable. 452 00:21:23,840 --> 00:21:26,200 Speaker 1: But this is not black and white, you know, Finding 453 00:21:26,200 --> 00:21:28,320 Speaker 1: that right balance is important because we know when people 454 00:21:28,320 --> 00:21:31,360 Speaker 1: are satisfying, fulfilled outside of work, it has a huge 455 00:21:31,400 --> 00:21:34,240 Speaker 1: impact positive impact on their mental health, and that positively 456 00:21:34,280 --> 00:21:37,639 Speaker 1: impacts their productivity and their creativity in the workplace. So 457 00:21:37,680 --> 00:21:40,800 Speaker 1: it's a win win. I'm part of the baby boomer generation, 458 00:21:41,000 --> 00:21:44,280 Speaker 1: and this generation is now increasingly dealing with problems relating 459 00:21:44,280 --> 00:21:49,119 Speaker 1: to Alzheimer's dimension and so forth. Not particularly my age, 460 00:21:49,160 --> 00:21:51,960 Speaker 1: but maybe some people my age even younger, but obviously 461 00:21:52,040 --> 00:21:55,080 Speaker 1: in their late seventies, eighties, and nineties, More and more 462 00:21:54,920 --> 00:21:58,680 Speaker 1: we're reading about Alzheimer's. Is this uh an epidemic that 463 00:21:58,800 --> 00:22:01,440 Speaker 1: you can't really deal anything about or is it something 464 00:22:01,480 --> 00:22:04,320 Speaker 1: we could deal with in some way. It's the real 465 00:22:04,440 --> 00:22:06,480 Speaker 1: challenge for a lot of families, mine included. You know, 466 00:22:06,520 --> 00:22:09,120 Speaker 1: I have a ninety year old grandmother at home who's 467 00:22:09,119 --> 00:22:13,080 Speaker 1: struggling with dementia, and providing care for her has been 468 00:22:13,080 --> 00:22:15,600 Speaker 1: a real challenge. And from my family, we love her dearly, 469 00:22:15,640 --> 00:22:17,639 Speaker 1: we want to be there for her, but where it's 470 00:22:17,640 --> 00:22:19,879 Speaker 1: painful for us to see the told dementia has taken 471 00:22:19,920 --> 00:22:23,040 Speaker 1: on her. Uh So this is rightfully uh you know, 472 00:22:23,119 --> 00:22:26,440 Speaker 1: a concern for for families across the country. We're investing 473 00:22:26,440 --> 00:22:29,639 Speaker 1: a lot in studying dementia to not just Alzheimer's but 474 00:22:29,680 --> 00:22:32,199 Speaker 1: other forms of demensia, to understand what's driving it. But 475 00:22:32,359 --> 00:22:36,639 Speaker 1: very interestingly, there's also uh some research that's taking place, 476 00:22:36,960 --> 00:22:40,639 Speaker 1: lifestyle research, if you will, on the impact of diet, 477 00:22:40,760 --> 00:22:45,840 Speaker 1: of social connection, of physical activity, and sleep on dementia 478 00:22:45,920 --> 00:22:48,840 Speaker 1: as well. Dean Ornish, professor at the University of California, 479 00:22:48,920 --> 00:22:52,280 Speaker 1: San Francisco, has been actually one of the key folks 480 00:22:52,320 --> 00:22:54,159 Speaker 1: you know, who has been leading some of that research 481 00:22:54,200 --> 00:22:56,879 Speaker 1: on the impact of lifestyle and dementia. Uh. And you know, 482 00:22:56,920 --> 00:22:59,399 Speaker 1: this is a promising area. But I certainly think this 483 00:22:59,520 --> 00:23:01,359 Speaker 1: is we should expect, it should be this is gonna 484 00:23:01,359 --> 00:23:04,680 Speaker 1: be concerned for families across America in the future, and 485 00:23:04,880 --> 00:23:06,359 Speaker 1: just keeping a mind it's not just about the people 486 00:23:06,359 --> 00:23:09,200 Speaker 1: who are impacted by dementia, it's about their families as well. 487 00:23:09,680 --> 00:23:12,359 Speaker 1: It impacts when you look at like what pulls people 488 00:23:12,359 --> 00:23:15,399 Speaker 1: away from work, what makes it harder for them to 489 00:23:15,520 --> 00:23:19,000 Speaker 1: be there for their community. It's often caregiving responsibilities, and 490 00:23:19,000 --> 00:23:22,640 Speaker 1: the caregiver burnout crisis in America is real and dementia 491 00:23:22,720 --> 00:23:24,800 Speaker 1: is a big part of that. For a young person 492 00:23:24,840 --> 00:23:26,959 Speaker 1: who says I want to be the next Surgeon General 493 00:23:26,960 --> 00:23:28,959 Speaker 1: of the United States or someday grew up to resurge 494 00:23:28,960 --> 00:23:31,160 Speaker 1: in general, what advice would you have for a young 495 00:23:31,240 --> 00:23:33,520 Speaker 1: person who says I want to aspire to a career 496 00:23:33,560 --> 00:23:35,960 Speaker 1: like yours. What would you say, go to medical school, 497 00:23:36,520 --> 00:23:40,639 Speaker 1: um do what find a problem that you care about, 498 00:23:40,840 --> 00:23:43,000 Speaker 1: and try to help address it in whatever small way 499 00:23:43,040 --> 00:23:45,840 Speaker 1: you can, and don't be limited by the amount of 500 00:23:45,880 --> 00:23:48,280 Speaker 1: training you have or the experience that you have. You know, 501 00:23:48,640 --> 00:23:50,399 Speaker 1: in a lot of times, what I found early in 502 00:23:50,440 --> 00:23:53,840 Speaker 1: life is when I began my first nonprofit organization, I 503 00:23:53,960 --> 00:23:56,760 Speaker 1: was I was seventeen years old. At the time, I 504 00:23:56,760 --> 00:23:58,960 Speaker 1: didn't know a lot about a whole lot of things, 505 00:23:59,000 --> 00:24:01,040 Speaker 1: and I made a lot of mis stakes. Uh Is 506 00:24:01,040 --> 00:24:03,679 Speaker 1: my sister and I tried to build this entity, but 507 00:24:03,720 --> 00:24:05,320 Speaker 1: we learned a lot along the way, and what we 508 00:24:05,400 --> 00:24:08,240 Speaker 1: lacked in experience and an education, we made up for 509 00:24:08,840 --> 00:24:12,080 Speaker 1: an enthusiasm and in a willingness to learn. And so 510 00:24:12,119 --> 00:24:14,720 Speaker 1: I would just encourage young people to look for find 511 00:24:14,720 --> 00:24:17,480 Speaker 1: a problem you really care about, and start trying to 512 00:24:17,480 --> 00:24:19,639 Speaker 1: address in whatever small way you can. Maybe it's on 513 00:24:19,680 --> 00:24:22,639 Speaker 1: your own, maybe it's in the community organization, but start 514 00:24:22,680 --> 00:24:25,280 Speaker 1: trying to help right away. Don't wait until you're done 515 00:24:25,280 --> 00:24:28,600 Speaker 1: with your education. Thanks for listening to hear more of 516 00:24:28,600 --> 00:24:33,160 Speaker 1: my interviews. You can subscribe and download my podcast on Spotify, Apple, 517 00:24:33,440 --> 00:24:34,320 Speaker 1: or wherever you listen.