Dr. Vivek H. Murthy Rejoins U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee Board of Directors

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee today announced that Dr. Vivek H. Murthy, M.D., MBA, has rejoined its board of directors – adding expertise in health and wellness, as well as additional sport, athlete and organizational knowledge. 

“It is a privilege and a joy to be able to support our Team USA athletes and the Olympic and Paralympic movements,” said Dr. Murthy. “We have an obligation to support the courageous individuals who represent our country in the field of competition, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this vital mission.”

Murthy was previously a member of the USOPC board, having been named in February of 2020 before stepping down in March of 2021 to reassume the role of Surgeon General he held previously from 2014-2017. 

"It’s my honor to welcome Dr. Murthy back to the board, and I know that the Olympic and Paralympic movements in the United States will benefit enormously from his leadership and commitment to Team USA,” said USOPC Chair Gene Sykes. “Vivek’s unique skillset and expertise will be invaluable as we further work to keep Team USA athletes healthy, both on the field of play and off, and help highlight the incredible commitment and virtue of Team USA athletes as they represent the U.S. on the global stage.”

Murthy was recommended to rejoin the board following a comprehensive evaluation process by its nominating and governance committee. He has been elected by the full board and is eligible for a four-year term with reelection to a second four-year term. 

The USOPC has now filled its remaining open independent director seat. The U.S. Olympians & Paralympians Association and Team USA Athletes’ Commission will undertake the process of selecting an at-large athlete-elected director. The selected retired athlete will serve out a term ending in 2026 and be eligible for a four-year extension at that point. 
 
The USOPC Board of Directors includes three representatives each from the Team USA Athletes’ Commission and National Governing Bodies Council (NGBC), two at-large athlete seats as well as five independent board members and American members of the IOC and members of the IPC Governing Board. Sarah Hirshland, USOPC CEO, serves as a non-voting member of the board.

Per USOPC policy, each member is subject to a strict background check and screened for any conflicts of interest that could potentially interfere with acting in the best interest of Team USA athletes, the organization and its stakeholders.

Vivek Murthy Bio:

Dr. Vivek H. Murthy served as the 19^th and 21^st Surgeon General of the United States. As the Nation's Doctor, the Surgeon General's mission is to help lay the foundation for a healthier country, relying on the best scientific information available to provide guidance and resources for the public. As the Vice Admiral of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, Dr. Murthy commanded a uniformed service of over 6,000 dedicated public health officers, serving underserved and vulnerable populations domestically and abroad.

Dr. Murthy’s work has widened the lens through which we see health and understand the forces that shape our well-being. While serving as the 21st U.S. Surgeon General from 2021-2025, he focused on drawing attention to critical, underappreciated health issues including the epidemic of loneliness and isolation, the impact of social media on youth mental health, and the state of parental mental health and well-being. He also issued Surgeon General Advisories and Reports on health misinformation, the youth mental health crisis, health worker burnout, tobacco-related health disparities, and the relationship between alcohol and cancer risk. Dr. Murthy served as a key advisor to President Biden on the COVID-19 pandemic response, and he also helped oversee thousands of deployments of public health officers in response to public health emergencies, including hurricanes, tornados, fires, and infectious disease outbreaks.  His Parting Prescription to America laid out a vision for rebuilding community as the key to health, happiness, and fulfillment.

During his previous tenure as the 19th U.S. Surgeon General, under President Obama, Dr. Murthy helped lead the national response to a range of health challenges, including the Ebola and Zika viruses and the opioid crisis. He also continued the office's legacy on preventing tobacco-related disease, releasing a historic Surgeon General's report on e-cigarettes and youth. And in 2016, he issued the first Surgeons General's Report on Alcohol, Drugs and Health, in which he challenged the nation to expand access to prevention and treatment, and to recognize addiction as a chronic illness, not a character flaw.

In 2020, Dr. Murthy published the New York Times best-seller Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World. Prior to his stints as Surgeon General, Dr. Murthy co-founded VISIONS, a global HIV/AIDS education organization; the Swasthya Project, a rural health partnership that trained women in South India to become community health workers and educators; TrialNetworks, a technology company dedicated to improving collaboration and efficiency in clinical trials; and Doctors for America, a nonprofit mobilizing physicians and medical students to improve access to affordable care. His scientific research has focused on vaccine development and the participation of women and minorities in clinical trials. And as an internal medicine doctor at Brigham and Women's Hospital and at Harvard Medical School, Dr. Murthy cared for thousands of patients and trained hundreds of undergraduates, medical students, and medical residents.

Raised in Miami, Dr. Murthy received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Harvard, his MD from the Yale School of Medicine, and his MBA from the Yale School of Management. 

He lives in Washington, DC with his wife, Dr. Alice Chen, and their two children.