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- [00:00]
Dell Narrator
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- [00:33]
AG1 Narrator
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- [01:05]
Dr. Sanjay Gupta
Hey there. Welcome to Chasing Life. You know, it's no secret that I'm a proud alumni of the University of Michigan. Go blue. I went to undergrad there. I went to medical school. I completed my residency in neurosurgery there. But also my father went to Michigan. One of my daughters now goes there as well. And I gotta tell you, one of the most indelible experiences of my life was several years ago when I delivered the undergraduate commencement address in the big house that is the largest outdoor stadium in the country. So this year, when the Wolverines asked me to deliver the 2026 commencement address to the medical school, I was honored and I jumped at the chance. So today we have a special episode because I'd like to share that speech with you to all the recent grads, whether it's high school or college or maybe, you know, someone studying hard to get in or just get through medical school, I want to share a few lessons that I learned along the way. Even more than 30 years later, I never take for granted that the education afforded me the chance to say I'm Dr. Sanjay Gupta and this is Chasing Life. Please help me welcome to the stage Dr. Sanjay Gupta. Thank you. Thank you. Wow. Thank you so much. I am delighted to be here. I have so much to say. I'll try and keep it somewhat brief because I know this day is all about you, but thank you Dean Wang and Dr. Miller and the provost and distinguished faculty. I'm kind of an Old guy here. Now, a lot of these folks behind me are actually younger than I am, which is wild. Thanks to everyone who planned this magical day and to all the family members who are here. This is a tremendously big day for you as well. I realize that, and I say that now as a father of college age students. But most of all, Wolverines class of 2026. Congratulations. Huge, huge congratulations for you, I gotta say. You know, every time I come here, I feel like I have come home. I've been to more than 100 countries now, around the world, every continent, and this will always be home. That's the case for me, and I suspect that it will be the case for you as well, because you've now had this incredible shared experience. I. I did the same things that you guys did. Studied hard, had a lot of late nights, learned the science and art of medicine, and made some of the best friends of my life. I love being a Wolverine. So much so that I married a Wolverine. So much so that I am here today at Michigan on my wedding anniversary today. So. So much so that she is here as well. That's what Wolverines do to celebrate. We come back to Ann Arbor to be with all of you. I am tremendously honored to be here. I am grateful at the opportunity to share a few words, and frankly, humbled that anyone really cares what I have to say. So let me start with this. You are now doctors. That's for life. No matter what you do, from here on out, you're a doctor, like it or not. It will probably be the most central tenet of who you are. And people will have all sorts of notions of who you are, what kind of person you are, what you are capable of doing. You'll become the doctor of every backyard barbecue. You'll be filled with questions about aching backs and strange rashes and even impotence. It will be amazing to you what people will suddenly be very comfortable sharing. Embrace that role. Never shy away from it. One group of people who will surprisingly not likely come to you as much as you would expect. However, your kids, as was mentioned, I have three teenagers. And if they have a medical problem, they go to Mom. Mom's a lawyer. She's a divorce lawyer at that. Some of you, some people will just assume you became doctors because you're trying to get rich. Which reminds me of one of my favorite quotes. Going into medicine for the money is like having sex for the exercise. I want you to know that I care deeply about this, and I thought a lot about this address today. And I think out of all the people that I have a chance to address your years and your sensibilities. And now your ability to do some incredible things in the world at a time when we desperately need it, I think has taken on a greater sense of urgency. I don't want to put too much pressure on you, but I think your jobs and your role in society are more important than ever. In my estimation, you are the new Guardians of the Galaxy. And that is something that I wanted to talk about today. These are critical times. These are really important times. And I think no one should be content to just sit on the sidelines. It's been more than 30 years now, 33 years, since I graduated from medical school, and a lot of things have changed. The world is a tremendously different place. It's been wild to watch these transformations over the last few decades. We have more faith than ever before, and yet we are more suspicious as well. We value our freedom, and yet, too often, we live in fear. We spend more money on healthcare than in years past, and yet we have still dropped in life expectancy. We can treat and even cure diseases we barely understood a quarter century ago. And yet, too often, the people who would most benefit from these amazing therapies never have access to them. But here's the thing. You have the ability to now change that. You have the capacity to restore the faith, reverse some of those tragic trends, and reassure people who will come to depend on you. It's an awesome task. It really is. It's awesome for society, and I think it's awesome for all of you personally as well. Because I got to tell you, there's going to be times in your life where the trajectory of your life is going to seem a little confusing, a little muddled. And at those times, you will come to appreciate just how important the clarion call of compassion can be. You get to wake up every morning knowing your purpose and your passion on this Earth. And that is an enormous gift. It comes with obligations, as was mentioned. You have to protect the legacy of medicine. You have to contribute to its growth. And most importantly, I think you need to always respect the sacred bond and between you and your patients, making sure it stays sacred. There is no other relationship like this in society. Just think about that. Got to be humble. Got to soak yourself in the privilege of your profession, not the arrogance. Remember that there is ritual and tradition in caring for patients that's been passed down over hundreds of years. That's what you're now adopting. You'll get to stand there in Your crisp white coat. And your patient is wearing a gown, typically paper or cloth, probably fumbling with the ties. You have your tools, your bright lights and your hammers and your blades to shine, bang, and probe. And your patients will be worried, sensitive and guarded. They may barely know you, but at that moment, you will be the most important person in their lives. It's the greatest privilege given by one human being to another, to care for them at their most vulnerable time, to restore them to health when their bodies have betrayed them, to take them to the brink of death if you have to, but then promise to bring them back in better condition than when you started. You know, I say all these things to you, and I got to tell you, I realize you have a lot of things on your mind right now. You're thinking about the future, so a lot of what we're saying up here may not stick. I don't even remember. Maya. Commencement. I knew that it was important. I mean, typically, if you're wearing a robe at this time of day, either means you've totally given up on life, or something important has happened. So what is it? What does this day mean to you, really? What does this moment mean to you? How does it fit into the way that you view the world and the way that you think the world is going to unfold over the next 30 years? What's going to be your place in that ever changing world? Well, here are a few things that I know now that I wished I knew then.
- [10:16]
AG1 Narrator
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- [10:46]
Dr. Sanjay Gupta
Banmetta lets you explore the world without a screen getting in the way, so you can stay present in the moment.
- [10:51]
AG1 Narrator
Hey, Meta, tell me what kind of dessert this is. That's a stroopwafel, a Dutch waffle with spiced syrup in the middle. Is it sweet? Yes. Perfect for a snack or dessert.
- [11:03]
Dell Narrator
Mmm.
- [11:04]
AG1 Narrator
Delicious.
- [11:05]
Dr. Sanjay Gupta
Get answers on the go without interrupting your flow. Ray Ban Metta Iconic Style meets Meta AI, Available at Walmart and other authorized retailers. You're in a period of explosive learning, and frankly, it's fun. It's fun to just learn like this, but some of the greatest lessons are going to come on the fringes when you least expect it. And while no one wants to fail, those are when those lessons are extremely amplified and become the most enduring. For me personally, it was only when I became comfortable living in that world, when I could admit failure openly and even embrace it, something incredible happened for me. I felt liberated. I felt like I was a real human, not a machine. And there's an irony in here, I think, that you're far more likely to be successful and more human if you let the world in on your foibles as much as your victories. The premium currency which we all value, even if we can't always define it, is that authenticity. And in a world increasingly dominated by artificial intelligence, I think you should focus on another type of AI which is authentic intelligence. So, graduates, above all, be authentic. Be human. In this most human of all professions, Another lesson, the right decision is always to be kind. I say this as a neurosurgeon, realizing we don't always have the best reputation when it comes to this. While it may not seem like it at the moment, and there's going to be many sources of frustration and irritation in your lives, the arc of history is long. You always feel better if you made the decision to be kind. I've always found that in retrospect, for me, what bothers me about those irritating situations the most is how I reacted to them, even more so than the situation itself. So be kind. Take the extra moment to touch, smile a lot, even use humor. As the great Maya Angelou once said, people may not always remember what you said, or maybe even what you did, but they will remember how you made them feel. Also, class of 2026, remember this. This is an important one. Don't spend your life continually trying to prove you are smart. I will say it. You are smart. You've proven it. So instead, spend your time trying to become wise. Now, from here on out, it's a difference. Smart people, they may know the right answers. Wise people, they know the right questions. So, class of 2026, spend your time asking the right questions, even if they seem dumb, because those are often the questions everyone else is too afraid to ask. And along the way, you may find that you are no longer someone who is just continuously memorizing the past, but instead, you start to become someone who is changing the future. Respect history, but don't be afraid to make some. Many years ago, I was covering a conflict, a war in a faraway land. And I was embedded with this group of remarkable doctors, colloquially known as the devil docs. They are the ones who run in, risk their lives in order to save others. I was there as A journalist. But as I said, we are now all doctors first. And one day they came to me and they said that a young man, a lieutenant, had been shot in the back of the head. They thought he had died, but now knew that he was alive. And they asked if I would literally take off my journalist cap and put on my surgeon's cap. And the answer, of course, was yes. We didn't have much equipment in that dusty desert tent, so in order to do this operation on his brain, I used the Black and Decker drill, the same one we'd been using to put up our tents. Not sure artificial intelligence would have come up with that. I decided then to use the inside of an IV bag to recreate the outer layer of his brain. Performed an operation to remove the blood, clot the bone and the bullet chips. After I was all done, I wrapped him up. Shortly thereafter, a Black Hawk helicopter landed and flew him away. And all I knew was his name. Jesus Vidana. I wasn't sure I'd ever see him again. I wasn't sure that he would survive. It was the most intense hour and a half of my life. A few months later, I got a call. I was back home in the States. It was from a 619 area code, which I recognize as being San Diego. And the person on the other end of the line said, hey, is this Dr. Gupta? I have an update on one of your patients. And the first thing I said was, I think you might have the wrong Dr. Gupta. As it turns out, there's quite a few of us. He said, no, I think I got the right guy. Do you remember operating on Jesus Vidanya over in Iraq? And I said, yeah, sure. How do you forget operating on Jesus in the middle of the desert? Still, I didn't know what he was going to say next. And he told me that Jesus had a little bit of left hand weakness, but otherwise was doing well, and it was amazing. He told me that I should come visit him sometime. So I was out in Southern California a couple weeks later, and I decided to pay him a visit. He answered the door, just handsome guy, strapping young Marine. And I was always blown away by how young the people are that safeguard our country. Young guy, full of life and vigor. I'd only previously seen him beaten and battered on the desert floor. He gave me a hug, and we walked into his house where he still lived with his parents, and we started chatting. A few minutes later, his mom comes out and she's really sweet, and she takes my hands and she holds them and she says, Are you the guy that operated on my son? I said, yes, ma', am, I am. And she says thank you and is really sweet about it. A few minutes later, dad comes out. Dads are different, right? He looks at me and he says, are you the guy that operated on my son? I said, yes, sir, I am. He said, and you're a journalist. Hadn't gotten the whole story, but I realized something extraordinary as I sat down with them on that lazy Sunday afternoon. They had never really talked about it. They never talked about the fact that he'd gone through this life altering, life changing, potentially life ending event. Because life gets procedural sometimes. Life goes on. And as I sat there having the conversation, I realized I was enabling and empowering a conversation that would otherwise not be had. And I don't think I'm exaggerating when I say it was just as therapeutic in some ways as the operation that I had performed in the middle of the desert. It was human. It was authentic. And it's what you get to do now all the time, uniquely so. You're going to save lives, you're going to advance medicine, and you are going to touch countless people you haven't even met yet. The world will change a lot over the next 30 years when you find yourself in the same position that I am today. So let me end with one more lesson. Make a pledge to yourself and to each other. Over the last four years, you have made some of the best friends you'll ever have in your life. That was certainly the case for me. Always answer their calls. Be there in their times of need. Fly around the world, graduates for their weddings and the births of their children. Always be there for one another and I promise you, it will become one of the most precious touchstones and you ever have in your life. Don't forget, graduates, the path that you've chosen is one that will always require not artificial intelligence, but authentic intelligence that uniquely human touch. Good luck. I love you. I am with you. And sweetheart, happy anniversary. Thank you so much for listening to all the families and support that help their loved ones through their education, wherever on their journey they might be. Thank you. We couldn't have done it without you. And of course, good luck to all the graduates out there. And go blue. Apro vechecha los ahoros de Memorial Day in los y compra los vasicos pare lo gar pormenos ahoro centadolares en la parria gas de cuatro que madores char broil Performance Series. Influential journalist Kara Swisher is taking a hard look at the longevity industry.
- [19:48]
AG1 Narrator
There's so much bad information that the really good information gets drowned.
- [19:52]
Dr. Sanjay Gupta
The new CNN original series, Kara Swisher wants to live forever now streaming on the CNN app.