In celebration of World Friendship Day, the Surgeon General invites an old friend and House Calls producer to talk about how their deep connection has seen them through the best of times and the worst of times, sustaining them both personally and professionally.

(00:28 ) House Calls gets personal as Dr. Murthy introduces an old friend (who is also a House Calls producer)

(01:56 ) How Dr. Murthy and his friend Ann Kim met

(03:27 ) How many marriages have resulted from Dr. Murthy’s personal pastime of matchmaking?

(03:54 ) How has Dr. Murthy and Ann Kim’s friendship cultivated a focus on social connection?

(04:44 ) How can we find the light in other people?

(05:28 ) Why is talking with a friend in challenging times so helpful?

(08:38 ) How can a friend help us explore our interests and find our focus?

(11:29 ) How can we help children foster deep friendship with their siblings?

(13:27 ) Dr. Murthy shares his favorite poem about friendship.

(16:11 ) How can we inspire more friendship?

We’d love to hear from you! Send us a note at housecalls@hhs.gov with your feedback & ideas. For more episodes, visit www.surgeongeneral.gov/housecalls.   

Ann Kim, House Calls Producer and Friend

Instagram: @annkimannkim

About Ann Kim 

Ann Kim is Chief Innovation & Design Officer at the Office of the U.S. Surgeon General. In this role, Ann and her team aim to bring creativity and design thinking to government, modernizing and humanizing ways to advance public health. She oversees the surgeon general’s website, first-ever podcast (“House Calls with Dr. Vivek Murthy”), and creative development of new products and initiatives. She served as Chief Design Officer during Dr. Vivek Murthy’s previous tenure from 2016-2017, developing campaigns to address substance use, opioids prescribing, and emotional well-being.

Prior to public service, Ann served as as executive director of health and well-being at global design firm IDEO. During her decade at IDEO, her portfolio included the design of HIV-prevention products, digital mental health tools, and new models of healthcare delivery.

In the first decade of her career, Ann was a producer and filmmaker for public television. Her credits include the award-winning PBS/Frontline series “The Age of AIDS” and “Unnatural Causes: Is Inequality Making Us Sick?” the landmark documentary series on the social determinants of health. She has reported for the public radio from Botswana, India, and North Korea. Her latest documentary, “Lovesick,” is about a physician in India who is also a matchmaker for her HIV-positive single patients.

Ann is a graduate of Harvard College, with a joint degree in Anthropology & the Study of Religion. She is a board member of Noora Health. And, unlike her dear friend the Surgeon General who identifies as a cat person, she considers herself a dog person.