University News | May 11, 2011

Atul Gawande to address medical and dental school graduating classes

The surgeon and professor of health policy won a National Magazine Award this week.

Atul Gawande—associate professor in the department of health policy at the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH), associate professor of surgery at Harvard Medical School (HMS), and surgeon at Brigham and Women's Hospital—will be the Class Day speaker for HMS and the Harvard School of Dental Medicine on May 26.

Gawande was the subject of "The Unlikely Writer," a profile in the September-October 2009 issue. He is the author of The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right; Better: A Surgeon's Notes on Performance; and Complications: A Surgeon's Notes on an Imperfect Science. He regularly writes about medicine and healthcare policy for the New Yorker, and just this week won a National Magazine Award for "Letting Go," his May 2010 article on end-of-life care.

Gawande previously spoke at the medical and dental schools' Class Day, in 2005 (read the speech text as a PDF file); and in 2009, he spoke at the HSPH diploma ceremony (read the speech text as a Microsoft Word document).

You might also like

An image of a doctor writing set against a background of code, representing AI

Harvard’s Arthur Kleinman reflects on what’s lost when healthcare systems prioritize efficiency.

Black and white photo of Joseph Murray in a white lab coat sitting in an office.

Nobel Prize recipient Joseph E. Murray dedicated much of his career to organ transplant surgery.

A blue refrigerator covered with animal pictures, notes, and drawings, surrounded by greenery.

An animal’s journey from grief to love shows how much humans need each other, too.

Most popular

Star-filled night sky with the Milky Way arching over a rocky silhouette.

There’s a growing movement to curb light pollution. It starts on your front porch.

Illustration of a donkey turning a ship’s wheel away from high-rise apartment buildings in the background

Origins of the Urban Housing Crisis

The high cost of environmental mandates, historic-preservation rules, and other good intentions

White House and Harvard University buildings split diagonally with contrasting colors.

Harvard Weathers a Year of Turmoil

The federal government has launched unprecedented actions against the University. Here’s a guide.

Explore More From Current Issue

A chaotic scene in a messy room with people engaging in various activities, some cleaning.

Harvard History

Until the 1950s, professionals cleaned up after students in the dorms.

Aerial view of modern high-rise buildings surrounded by greenery and city skyline.

Architecture & Design

In a sea of red brick, the Science Center and Peabody Terrace make their mark.

A vibrant group of dancers in colorful outfits poses on a stage with shiny decorations.

Arts & Culture

The Harvard Arts Medalist wants his smash-hit Cats revival to reach “as many young queer people” as possible.