Harvard University has announced that Dr. Abraham Verghese, a renowned physician, bestselling author, and professor of medicine, will be the principal speaker at its 374th Commencement ceremony on May 29.

In recognition of his contributions to medicine and literature, Verghese will also receive an honorary degree during the ceremony in Harvard’s historic Tercentenary Theatre.

A Career Bridging Medicine and Literature

Dr. Verghese, the Linda R. Meier and Joan F. Lane Provostial Professor of Medicine at Stanford University, is internationally recognized for humanizing the physician-patient relationship.

His work emphasizes the importance of empathy, bedside diagnosis, and the art of truly connecting with patients in an era increasingly dominated by technology.

As a practicing physician specializing in infectious diseases, he has dedicated his career to championing the human experience in medicine.

Beyond his medical practice, Verghese is an acclaimed writer whose works explore the intersection of illness, healing, and human connection.

His debut memoir, My Own Country: A Doctor’s Story, chronicles his experiences treating HIV/AIDS patients in rural Tennessee during the 1980s and was adapted into a film.

His second memoir, The Tennis Partner, was a New York Times notable book. In 2009, his novel Cutting for Stone became an international bestseller, spending over two years on The New York Times bestseller list.

Most recently, in 2023, his novel The Covenant of Water was selected for Oprah’s Book Club and is being adapted into a Netflix series.

Verghese’s Contributions to Medicine

At Stanford, Verghese has played a pivotal role in shaping patient-centered medical education.

He is the founder of Presence, an interdisciplinary center focused on the human side of healthcare, and Stanford Medicine 25, an initiative dedicated to reviving the lost art of bedside diagnosis.

His teaching philosophy underscores that a physical examination is not merely a diagnostic tool but also a ritual that strengthens the doctor-patient relationship.

Harvard University President Alan M. Garber lauded Verghese as a role model of creativity, service, and leadership, stating:

“Throughout his remarkable career, Dr. Abraham Verghese has followed his wide-ranging interests to carve a unique path distinguished by breathtaking creativity, outstanding achievement, and exemplary service. He has pursued excellence across disciplines with an intensity surpassed only by his humanity, which shines brilliantly through his works of both fiction and nonfiction, as well as his work as a clinician and teacher.”

A Journey from Ethiopia to Global Recognition

Born to Indian parents in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Verghese immigrated to the United States in 1974 amid political turmoil.

He completed his medical education at Madras Medical College in India before moving to the U.S. for his residency at East Tennessee State University.

His early experiences as a doctor, particularly during the HIV/AIDS epidemic, profoundly influenced his perspective on medicine and human suffering.

His academic career has taken him across the country, from a fellowship at Boston University School of Medicine to faculty positions at Texas Tech University and the University of Texas Health Science Center.

In the early 1990s, he pursued a Master of Fine Arts at the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, further honing his literary voice before returning to academic medicine.

Verghese’s accolades include the Heinz Award for outstanding contributions to the arts and humanities, the National Humanities Medal awarded by President Barack Obama, and membership in both the National Academy of Medicine and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.