In 2023, Vivek Murthy issued a warning that stopped many public health leaders in their tracks. America, he said, is facing an epidemic of loneliness. The advisory, released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, revealed a startling reality: roughly half of U.S. adults report experiencing measurable levels of loneliness. But the most striking finding was this: Loneliness is not just an emotional experience. It is a serious health risk. Research cited in the report shows that chronic loneliness carries health risks comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. It

Before hope becomes something we give, it is something we receive.This week, we sat in downtown Norfolk with our cousin, Reverend Dr. Yvonne Delk, atrailblazer whose life has spanned more than 60 years of advocacy, justice, and spiritualleadership.The first Black woman ordained in the United Church of Christ. A national faith leader. Awoman who walked through doors that did not exist until she pushed them open.And she is family.Watch our conversation with Reverend Dr. Yvonne Delk below. https://youtu.be/_BjQnZM-oa4?si=N6i1lN79r8rJoyWU When we shared our vision for Medicine & Music – Healing,

At Medicine & Music, we meet people where they are — bringing physician-informed wellness conversations, music, and human connection directly into community spaces. Through Dee-Dee’s Hope Chest, women have long gathered in a private, supportive space to share life’s challenges, caregiving journeys, health concerns, grief, resilience, and hope. The My Hope Series brings selected stories forward — shared voluntarily by members of this community — so that others may feel seen, supported, and less alone in their own journey. Each story reflects the power of being heard and the healing that

Not the kind that shows up at parties — but the kind that arrives when someone sits beside you… or when a familiar song unlocks a memory at just the right moment. As recently married empty nesters, our lives were supposed to be getting quieter. Instead, one of us spends his days caring for older adults, as a physician, listening for what’s said, and what isn’t. While the other works in marketing communications and sings, often discovering that a melody can restore a sense of joy words simply can’t.