At Health Matters 2025, Stanford Medicine physicians, scientists, and health care experts presented their latest research and practical tips.
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 guided attendees 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. Challenge your assumptions, ask questions, and leave inspired to create lasting, meaningful wellness.
How Precision Medicine Is Changing the Future—and Your Health
Euan Ashley, MB ChB, DPhil, Arthur L. Bloomfield Professor of Medicine, Roger and Joelle Burnell Professor of Genomics and Precision Health, 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? Dr. Ashley, chair of the Department of Medicine, explored the realities—and dispelled 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.
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, discussed 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.
