Outdoor Health Talks
Engage with Our Experts in Three Lively, Interactive Sessions

 

At Health Matters 2025, Stanford Medicine physicians, scientists, and health care experts will present their latest research and practical tips. Visit the Health Talks tent to hear about:

• How the habits you develop now can create healthy longevity later

• The ways precision medicine can transform your health, plus simple steps you can take now to protect your wellness

• How scientific discoveries at Stanford are resolving the deepest mysteries of the mind—and what part our emotions play

Not able to attend in person? You can watch a livestream of all three Health Talks on the day of the event.

10 a.m. PT

Healthy Longevity: Why Early Habits Matter
Deborah Kado, MD, MS, Professor of Medicine–Primary Care and Population Health and, by courtesy, of Epidemiology and Population Health

Thanks to advances in health care and medicine, a century-long lifespan is becoming a reality for more people than ever before. But how do you make sure that journey is one of growth, discovery, and vibrant health? With warmth and wisdom, Dr. Kado will guide you through the art of creating vitality, revealing how your attitude today shapes your health tomorrow. You’ll learn the importance of a self-body inventory and why early habits matter, get a glimpse into the cutting-edge longevity research happening at Stanford, and discover tips you can use today to help keep your body and mind strong for life. Come ready to challenge your assumptions, ask questions, and leave inspired to create lasting, meaningful wellness.

11 a.m. PT

How Precision Medicine Is Changing the Future—and Your Health
Euan Ashley, MB ChB, DPhil, Arthur L. Bloomfield Professor of Medicine and Professor of Genetics, of Biomedical Data Science and, by courtesy, of Pathology

We’ve all heard that precision medicine is the new face of medicine. But what, really, is it? And does it truly stand to transform our health? Join Dr. Ashley, chair of the Department of Medicine, as he explores the realities—and dispels a few myths—of this revolutionary approach to personalized health care. You’ll discover how your unique genetic makeup can shape your medical future and hear about the exciting possibilities that genomics and other advances stand to offer. This isn’t just about tomorrow’s breakthroughs, however: You’ll gain practical, easy-to-implement tips to optimize your well-being … starting today.

12 p.m. PT

The Intelligence of Emotions: How Scientists Are Resolving Mysteries of the Mind
Karl Deisseroth, MD, PhD,
D.H. Chen Professor and Professor of Bioengineering and of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

Through his pioneering work in optogenetics—a technique that allows for the precise control of brain activity with light—Dr. Deisseroth seeks to uncover the origins of our emotions. In this enlightening talk, Dr. Deisseroth, a practicing psychiatrist and leading neuroscience researcher, will discuss how feelings such as fear, happiness, and sadness emerge from the interplay of specific brain regions and neural circuits, and how disruptions in these connections can lead to conditions such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD. His insights stand to transform our understanding of mental health, paving the way for innovative approaches to treatment.