Aspen Ideas

Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, PhD, MD, MAS, Editor in Chief of JAMA and the JAMA Network, was recognized among 12 trailblazing women in health, medicine, and science by @aspenideas: Health. Her work in epidemiology and biostatistics, with a focus on health equity and advancing science communication, was highlighted during a panel on rebuilding trust in health and medicine. Read more about her recognition and the other honorees at Aspen Ideas: Health. ja.ma/4lSdPzb

📰 This week in @TheAspenTimes: @AspenInstitute Announces First Round of Aspen Ideas: Health Speakers! aspentimes.com/news/the-aspen…

@Rezaa_1007 🙌🏔️💡

From Dhaka 🇧🇩 to Aspen 🇺🇸🌍 Selected as a 2026 @aspenideas : Health Fellow. Grateful for the opportunity to bring my work on GluSonic into global conversations on the future of health. #AspenIdeasHealth

🎤 New Aspen Ideas: Health speakers announced! Get to know more of the inspiring leaders who will help guide our exploration of the big ideas shaping the future of health, medicine, and science. Explore the preview and join us in June: bit.ly/4cdwF0X 💡 Sharmila Makhija of @ALWMedSchool 💡Former @NIH Director Francis Collins 💡Toy designer and "Playful" author Cas Holman 💡 @j_g_allen of @HarvardChanSPH 💡 @DaphneKoller of @insitro 💡 Ami Bhatt of @ACCinTouch 💡 Jamie Justice of @xprize 💡 Flora Lichtman of @scifri 💡 Alice Park of @TIME

Aspen Ideas: Health is where health’s biggest challenges meet today’s biggest thinkers! We're excited to share your first look at some of the many leaders and innovators who will take the stage from June 22-25 to explore bold approaches to better health for all. Meet these nine speakers - and stay tuned for more announcements: bit.ly/4cdwF0X

Meaningful collaboration requires more than just high-performing individuals with great ideas and shared goals. It demands the empathy to listen and the humility to be changed. In this episode of Leading Voices filmed at the 2025 @aspenideas Festival, we hear from Lisa Park, an artist and lecturer at the University of Pennsylvania. Drawing from her journey as an educator and innovative artist—and shaped by watching her mother navigate academia with grace and adaptivity—Lisa Park redefines what it means to be a true leader in an interconnected world. Leading Voices is an ongoing series from the Aspen Institute where you’ll hear directly from leaders about what it takes to lead and how they got to where they are. Stay tuned for more stories and insights on leadership in practice.

When we make space for creativity, we make space for well-being ✨ Ahead of #AspenIdeasHealth's 13th annual event this summer, we're looking back at some of the innovative artists, musicians, actors, photographers, filmmakers, comedians, and choreographers who have shared their creative expressions of the mind, body, and spirit on our stages. Explore how the arts expand our understanding of health and offer powerful pathways to healing: bit.ly/4ab8JbU

It's time to rethink aging. Healthy longevity means maximizing "healthspan"—the years lived in good physical, cognitive, and social health—rather than just extending lifespan. To achieve this goal for more people, we need to shift our societal mindset and build systems that focus on: 🩺 Access to quality healthcare 🤝 Fostering social connection 💵 Enhancing financial security 🫡 Respecting accumulated wisdom ✏️ Supporting lifelong learning Watch the full Aspen Ideas: Health conversation with leaders from @AARP, @MountSinaiNYC, & @Stanford to learn more: bit.ly/4qHiANw

Attention film lovers‼️ We’re excited to announce that acclaimed documentary filmmaker Ken Burns has been named the Aspen Institute’s 2026–27 Harman-Eisner Artist in Residence. Over the year, Ken will bring his storytelling lens and artistic vision to Aspen Institute policy programs, leadership initiatives, and major public convenings in Washington, D.C., and Aspen, including the @aspenideas Festival. “As America marks its 250th anniversary, coming on the heels of the Aspen Institute’s 75th... this residency offers a rare opportunity to reflect on our shared history, our enduring values, and the kind of leadership required to sustain a democratic society,” Burns said. We’re honored to welcome Ken Burns into our vibrant community and look forward to the insights, dialogues, and innovative collaborations his work will inspire. Learn more: aspeninstitute.org/news/ken-burns…

How can we reconnect in an age of disconnection? In this conversation from the Aspen Ideas: Health archive, @vivek_murthy, the 19th and 21st U.S. Surgeon General, reminds us that we all have a role to play in rebuilding the social connections that are critical to our collective well-being. "This lies at the heart of what we have to do if we want to build a healthier society, a healthier set of individuals, and, quite frankly, if we also want to deal with division and polarization," he said. “It is the love that we demonstrate through our relationships with one another that will truly give us the power to heal.”

📣 Calling all health leaders, innovators, and advocates: Join us from June 22-25 for Aspen Ideas: Health 2026! Together, we'll explore bold approaches to better health for all with brilliant minds who are leading the way. Learn more and register today: aspenideas.org/health

Can we reclaim our cognitive liberty in the technological era? 🤔 Tech ethicist @NitaFarahany, author of “The Battle for Your Brain”, says the answer is yes... but it takes intentional work to prioritize our human autonomy over our digital devices. “We have to rebuild our ability to think freely,” she said during Aspen Ideas: Health. “The scaffolding of mental self-determination – competence, connection, and inner compass – took millennia to build. We can tear it down in a single generation, or we can choose, notification by notification; morning by morning, to build it back... The choice is ours; let’s choose wisely."

@NYUEmpathy @meganranney @DrLaPook Two of our favorite health champions! Looking forward to 2026 💡

June 2025 ⁦@aspenideas⁩ ⁦@meganranney⁩ speaking with ⁦@DrLaPook⁩ about finding common ground around firearm safety #FirearmSafety #gunsafety #empathy

Americans share a clear vision of what constitutes a good life, anchored in housing stability, meaningful social relationships, physical health, and financial security, according to the newly released @Gallup– @aspenideas American Values Study. Yet, much of their daily time is devoted to activities they don’t consider essential. The key takeaway: people who spend more time on what they truly value are more likely to thrive. Can you relate? Read the full analysis at Gallup: news.gallup.com/poll/700121/li…

⏰ The countdown is on! Don't forget to purchase your 2026 Aspen Ideas Festival or Health pass by December 31 for early bird savings. Register now: bit.ly/48XuOv3

160 visionary thinkers. 60 inspiring sessions. Countless big ideas. As Aspen Ideas: Health wraps up another year of elevating bold approaches to better health for all, we’re excited to share the 15 most-watched sessions from the 2025 event.💡 Explore: bit.ly/4s6mLDO

Looking for the perfect gift for the health advocate on your holiday list? Check out these 10 new books from our 2025 Aspen Ideas: Health speakers! From neuroscience to health equity to caregiving, these must-reads will give your favorite big thinkers plenty to ponder in the new year: bit.ly/48SEFB4

How can we better care for caregivers? 🫂 Today, over 60 million Americans provide essential care for loved ones, including children, older adults, and family members with special needs. These caregivers are critical to our health system—yet many lack the support needed to stay healthy and financially secure themselves. That's why experts & advocates are calling for change. #NationalFamilyCaregiversMonth Learn more from Aspen Ideas: Health ➡️ bit.ly/3KlyU6G

✨ What's the secret to a good life? In his new book "Life in Three Dimensions", @Shige_Oishi makes the case for psychological richness. Distinct from happiness and meaning, this dimension comes from experiences that spark curiosity, add variety, and challenge us to see the world a little differently. Learn more: bit.ly/4o3DCnl