Raj Panjabi, MD — Safer: A Playbook—Turning Fear into Action and Crisis into Community - with Dr. Vivek Murthy — at Conn Ave
Raj Panjabi, MD, presents *Safer: A Playbook—Turning Fear into Action and Crisis into Community*, a practical guide to responding to illness, disruption, violence, and other moments of crisis. Drawing on his work in the White House, emergency medicine, global public health, and his own experience fleeing civil war in Liberia as a child, Panjabi outlines eight practical “plays” for making decisions under pressure, evaluating risk amid misinformation, building trust, and turning vulnerability into collective strength.
Panjabi will discuss the book with Dr. Vivek Murthy, the former 19th and 21st Surgeon General of the United States. Their conversation will address public health, loneliness, mental well-being, social connection, and the ways communities can become more resilient in uncertain times.
When: Wednesday, October 14, 2026
Showtimes: The event begins at 7:00 p.m.
Tickets: Free admission, with seating available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Venue: Politics and Prose at 5015 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Featured author: Raj Panjabi, MD, is a former White House Senior Director and Special Assistant to the President at the National Security Council. He helped lead the U.S. response to the COVID-19 pandemic and develop plans for future public health emergencies. He previously led the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative and founded Last Mile Health, which expanded care in communities beyond the reach of traditional health systems. He is currently a Senior Partner at Flagship Pioneering, an associate physician and faculty member at Mass General Brigham and Harvard Medical School, and a recipient of recognition from Forbes, TIME, and Fortune.
Conversation partner: Dr. Vivek Murthy served as Surgeon General of the United States and as Vice Admiral of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, commanding 6,000 public health officers. He founded The Together Project after his government service and is the author of *Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World*. His work focuses on social connection, loneliness, youth mental health, workplace well-being, and community-building.
Discussion topics: Panjabi’s book presents strategies for overcoming fear and denial, using science to judge risk, filtering misinformation, finding common ground in divided communities, and adapting to rapidly changing circumstances. The event also explores how connection and community can help people respond to crises more effectively.
Accessibility: To request accommodations or ask about accessibility, email events@politics-prose.com, ideally at least one week before the event. The venue will make an effort to accommodate requests submitted closer to the event.
Related book: *Safer: A Playbook—Turning Fear into Action and Crisis into Community* is available for preorder in hardcover for $30.00, with a listed publication date of October 13, 2026.