Let’s Connect
“We need each other to keep us on the path.” Former US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, MD, MBA speaking at the AAFP FMX national conference, October 2025
This past week I had the opportunity to hear Vivek Murthy speak at our national Family Medicine conference. I have always admired him and his work, particularly that around the unprecedented levels of loneliness, disconnection, and isolation in our communities, and his time with us solidified that. He emphasized, “Community is a place where we know each other, where we help each other, where we find purpose in lifting each other up.”
And yet, as I looked around at my fellow attendees, I could not help but to wonder how connected each of them actually felt to those they work with each day. Instead of knowing, helping and lifting each other up, how many felt at best like a “parallel private corporation” rather than a “partner” with their clinical colleagues, too busy or distracted to even think about creating any meaningful relationships?
If that at all describes you, you are not alone … but you likely are feeling lonely. Indeed, according to research by Shawn Achor and colleagues at BetterUp, we physicians tend to be a lonely group, right up there with our legal colleagues. In their words: “Graduate degree holders … reported higher levels of loneliness and less workplace support than respondents who had only completed undergraduate or high school degrees. Professional degrees (law and medical degrees) were the loneliest by far, scoring 25% lonelier than bachelor’s degrees, and 20% lonelier than PhDs.”
It gets worse. According to Dr. Murthy's work during his time as Surgeon General, loneliness is associated with a greater risk of cardiovascular disease, dementia, stroke, depression, anxiety, and premature death. Data indicate the mortality impact of being socially disconnected is estimated to be similar to that caused by smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day, and even greater than that associated with obesity and physical inactivity.
Fortunately, Dr. Murthy provides some personal encouragement for each of us to find our way out of this “epidemic of loneliness.” In his words: “Loneliness and isolation represent profound threats to our health and well-being. Each of us can start now, in our own lives, by strengthening our connections and relationships. Our individual relationships are an untapped resource – a source of healing hiding in plain sight. They can help us live healthier, more productive, and more fulfilled lives. Answer that phone call from a friend. Make time to share a meal. Listen without the distraction of your phone. Perform an act of service. Express yourself authentically. The keys to human connection are simple, but extraordinarily powerful.”
Or, he could have simply said, “Find a buddy and share the journey together.” The data are quite clear and very concerning. No one should care alone. Heed the wisdom, and pass it on ….