Dr. Vivek Murthy, the former U.S. Surgeon General, will receive an honorary Doctor of Science from Dartmouth College at its 2026 Commencement ceremony on June 14 on the Green in Hanover, New Hampshire. Dartmouth announced on April 30, 2026, that Murthy is one of seven honorary degree recipients selected for this year’s ceremony, alongside leaders in the arts, science, public service, philanthropy, and free speech advocacy.

Murthy is being recognized for a public health career that has shaped national conversations around medicine, mental health, and community wellbeing. He served as U.S. Surgeon General under Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden, becoming the first person of Indian descent to hold the role, according to diaspora coverage of the announcement.

Dartmouth’s honorary degree announcement describes the recipients as individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the arts and humanities, sciences, business and industry, or public service. In Murthy’s case, the recognition centers on his leadership in public health, including his work elevating loneliness and social isolation as serious health concerns rather than private or secondary issues.

Murthy was born in Huddersfield, England, to parents who immigrated from Karnataka, India, and his family later settled in Miami, Florida, where his parents established a medical practice. That early exposure to community-based care helped shape his view of medicine as more than clinical treatment alone, connecting health outcomes to relationships, trust, and social support.

His academic path included Harvard University and the Yale School of Medicine, followed by a career that moved across medicine, policy, and national public health communication. As Surgeon General, Murthy became closely associated with framing loneliness as a public health risk and calling attention to the ways social disconnection can affect physical and mental health.

The Dartmouth recognition comes at a time when public health leaders are still addressing the long-term effects of the pandemic, rising youth mental health concerns, and declining trust in institutions. Murthy’s work stands out because it broadened the definition of public health to include not only disease prevention, but also emotional wellbeing, social connection, and community resilience.

For South Asian Americans, Murthy’s honorary degree is significant because it recognizes a leader whose identity and public service have both shaped his national profile. His career reflects how Indian American physicians and public servants are contributing not only in clinical settings, but also in policy, public communication, and national leadership.

Key Takeaways About Vivek Murthy

• Vivek Murthy will receive an honorary Doctor of Science from Dartmouth College.
• The degree will be awarded during Dartmouth’s 2026 Commencement on June 14.
• He served as U.S. Surgeon General under Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden.
• His public health work has focused on mental health, loneliness, community connection, and wellbeing.
• He is the first U.S. Surgeon General of Indian descent.