About the Robert Coles “Call of Service” Lecture & Award

What is the Coles Lecture & Award?
The Robert Coles “Call of Service” Lecture and Award is hosted annually by the Phillips Brooks House Association (PBHA) at Harvard College to celebrate individuals whose work exemplifies a commitment to service and social change. In 2007, PBHA established this award and lecture to honor visionary public servants whose work paves paths to justice and inspires action across generations.

Who is Robert Coles?
Named after Dr. Robert Coles, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author, child psychiatrist, and longtime PBHA advisor, the lecture lifts up voices that inspire civic engagement and moral leadership.

Robert Coles passed away in June 2026 at the age of 97. Through this lecture, Dr. Coles helped bridge the gap between public service and students at Harvard University and beyond. We are deeply grateful for the opportunities, conversations, and connections that grew from his extraordinary work and lifelong dedication to service. His impact shaped generations of PBHA students, community partners, and award recipients, and his legacy will continue to inspire those committed to building a more compassionate and just world.

We look forward to honoring his life and legacy at this year’s 20th Annual Robert Coles “Call of Service” Lecture & Award.

Read Robert Coles’ Boston Globe obituary, featuring a tribute from PBHA’s former Executive Director, Gene Corbin, and mention of this lecture and award.

About Dr. Vivek Murthy

Dr. Vivek Murthy served as the 19th and 21st Surgeon General of the United States. As Vice Admiral of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, he commanded a uniformed service of 6,000 public health officers. Dr. Murthy’s service as the “Nation’s Doctor” has widened the lens through which we understand the forces shaping our health and well-being, particularly the epidemic of loneliness, mental well-being among youth, parents, and in workplaces, and the impact of social media on youth mental health.

Following his tenure as Surgeon General, Dr. Murthy founded The Together Project, an initiative to prioritize social connection and community building in America. As part of this effort, he hosts Staying Human, a podcast and Substack community exploring how we can live truly fulfilling lives—grounded in belonging, joy, and meaning —while grappling with a world where powerful forces, especially technology, are edging out the very qualities that make us human: our relationships, our compassion, and our commitment to the common good.

Dr. Murthy is the author of the New York Times best-seller “Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World.” His 2025 “Parting Prescription to America,” published as his last act as U.S. Surgeon General, lays out his vision for rebuilding community as the key to health, happiness, and fulfillment.

Raised in Miami and an ardent lover of mangoes, Dr. Murthy graduated from Harvard College and received his MD from the Yale School of Medicine and his MBA from the Yale School of Management. He trained in internal medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School. Dr. Murthy lives in Washington, DC with his wife, Dr. Alice Chen, and their two children.

Event Details:

Date:
Friday, September 25, 2026

Time:
Doors open at 3:30 p.m.

Location:
First Parish Church - 1446 Mass Ave, Cambridge, MA 02318

Admission:
Free - Reserve ticket at https://coles2026.eventbrite.com