The E.N. Thompson Forum on World Issues, now in its 37th season, will present “A Conversation with Dr. Vivek Murthy” from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Lied Center for Performing Arts.
The event is free and open to the public. Tickets can be reserved through the Lied Center here, by calling 402-472-4747 or by visiting the Lied’s box office, 301 N. 12th St. Forum events are general admission, with seating on a first-come, first-served basis.
Murthy, the 19th and 21st U.S. surgeon general, has reshaped dialogue and strategies around mental health, workplace well-being, social connection and the impact of technology on health. His work has informed policy in Europe, the Americas, Asia and Australia. Murthy authored “Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World” and has contributed to major news outlets and medical journals. He co-chairs the World Health Organization’s Commission on Social Connection, a global effort to improve health outcomes through stronger human connection.
In this fireside chat with Dr. H. Dele Davies, interim chancellor of the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Murthy will explore ways to turn the challenges of loneliness and isolation into opportunities for deeper connection. Murthy’s authoritative yet compassionate voice bridges public health, personal well-being and organizational success, offering actionable insights for all. The event is co-sponsored by UNMC.
This year’s Thompson Forum series is organized around the theme “Belonging: Finding Connection in a Lonely World” and explores the rising public health challenges of loneliness and isolation, highlighting the vital role of social connection in enhancing the health and well-being of individuals and communities. The season is co-sponsored by the Lincoln Community Foundation and the College of Business.
The season opened with a short-film screening Sept. 18 featuring videos produced by the WHO’s Commission on Social Connection.
Other Thompson Forum events:
- Orly Israel, a communication strategist, creator of The Listening Table and vice president of Warmline.org, will deliver workshops to groups of up to 20 people, plus a public event, “Belonging is a Practice, Not a Place,” from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Nebraska Union’s Swanson Auditorium. No ticket is needed. To request a workshop for one’s class or group, contact Rebecca Baskerville at rbaskerville7@unl.edu.
- An Ignite Lincoln event will take place at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 17, 2026, at the Rococo Theater. Local individuals and nonprofit organizations will share ideas and stories to spark imagination, inspire, educate and build a better community. The event is presented by the Foundry and the Firespring Foundation, with the Thompson Forum as the presenting sponsor. Tickets are $10 and available here. Apply to speak by Nov. 1.
- Shaylyn Romney Garrett, a social entrepreneur and coauthor of “The Upswing: How America Came Together a Century Ago and How We Can Do It Again” with Robert D. Putnam, will present “America’s Upswing” from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. March 31, 2026, at the Lied Center. The award-winning book offers an evidence-based roadmap for how to reweave the country’s tattered social fabric. Free tickets are available here.
The E.N. Thompson Forum on World Issues is a cooperative project of the Cooper Foundation, Lied Center and University of Nebraska–Lincoln. The series was established in 1988 with the purpose of bringing a diversity of viewpoints on international and public policy issues to the university and people of Nebraska to promote understanding and encourage discussion. Learn more.
