top of page

Former Surgeon General, Director of Doctors For America Talk Positivity in the COVID-19 Era

Writer: Vivek Murthy
Vivek Murthy
Sep 7, 2020
1 min read

Former United States Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy ’98 and former director of Doctors for America Alice Chen spoke to students about hope amid the coronavirus pandemic in a Tuesday webinar.


Murthy and Chen, who are married, were invited by South Asian Americans in Public Service, a Harvard College student organization. Both have previously spoken at SAAPS and Harvard Kennedy School events.


Aman A. Panjwani ’20, SAAPS co-founder and event co-organizer, said in an interview that he felt that there was a “lack of rhetoric” on hope and positivity during the outbreak, and that SAAPS sought to create an event to close that gap. As of March 29, there were 200 registered to attend the webinar, according to Panjwani.


In the webinar, Murthy and Chen took questions from student moderators and then opened the virtual floor to the audience.


Murthy predicts that even when the virus is under control, going back to normal “won’t be like flipping a switch.”


“It will be like a gradual phase-in,” he said. One such circumstance, he postulated, could be reopening of schools and workplaces but still banning large gatherings and concerts.

Both stressed the importance of self-care and mindfulness from home during the uncertainty of the developing pandemic.


“It’s so easy to be buried in an avalanche of everything that’s coming at you,” Murthy said.


“Be easy on yourself.”


“No shame in Netflix!” Chen said, discussing ways to pass time at home.


Read full story on the Harvard Crimson: https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2020/4/1/harvard-coronavirus-hope-webinar/

407 Comments


beth1b9e30
2 hours ago

I found this article informative and enjoyable to read.Planning a trip that will stay with you from Miami to an international place? The Singapore Airlines Booking Phone Number Miami Airport can assist travelers with booking flights looking at prices and seeing what times work best. No matter if you're going for a family vacation, a work trip or just some time to relax, look into changing tickets, what happens if you need to cancel and ways to get seats for a more comfortable trip.Thanks for sharing!

Like

William miller
3 hours ago

An inspiring discussion highlighting positivity, resilience, and the importance of healthcare leadership during challenging times like COVID-19. iso lead auditor certification

Like

Lavvy Karts
2 days ago

An inspiring discussion highlighting the importance of positivity, trusted medical guidance, and community support during challenging times like the COVID-19 pandemic. ce certification saudi arabia

Like

Sam Wilson
2 days ago

Great and informative post. I really appreciate how clearly everything is explained in a simple way. Content like this helps readers understand important topics better. Learning about options such as Antiworm can be useful for those looking for reliable, easy-to-understand, and straightforward information without complicated terms.

Like

Ias Service
3 days ago

Food safety is a key priority for organizations involved in food production, processing, and handling. Understanding hazard identification, critical control points, and preventive measures helps professionals maintain safe food operations. Through HACCP training, participants can develop practical food safety knowledge, improve risk control, and support compliance with relevant food safety requirements.

Like

© 2025 Dr. Vivek H. Murthy. All rights reserved.

  • Grey Instagram Icon
  • Grey Facebook Icon
  • X
bottom of page