The U.S. Surgeon General will speak at two events at the University of Virginia on Thursday, promoting his platform of positive, healthy connections among people, and addressing health care workers and the challenges they face.

Dr. Vivek Murthy has twice been appointed as the nation’s top doctor, including his 2021 confirmation as the nation’s 21st surgeon general. At the invitation of UVA’s Compassionate Care Initiative, Murthy will participate in a “fireside chat” with UVA health care workers from noon to 1 p.m. in the Old Cabell Hall Auditorium. All medical and nursing students and UVA Health workers are invited to attend. Registration for the noon event is underway.

At 1:30 p.m. in Old Cabell Hall, Murthy will speak to a general audience as part of his “We Are Made to Connect” tour. UVA is the second stop on Murthy’s tour of college campuses across the country where he talks about the importance that connections have to health and well-being. The visit follows his release earlier this year of an advisory warning about the profound mental and physical health risks social disconnection poses and the growing problem of loneliness among college-age students.

Registration for the 1:30 event is also underway. The events require separate registrations.