Sanjay Gupta to Deliver University of Michigan Medical School Commencement Address

March 11, 2026

Renowned neurosurgeon and medical journalist Dr. Sanjay Gupta will return to his alma mater to deliver the 2026 commencement address at the University of Michigan Medical School. The ceremony will take place on May 15 at Hill Auditorium in Ann Arbor, celebrating the newest class of physicians and marking a homecoming for one of the school’s most prominent alumni.

Gupta, a graduate of the University of Michigan who earned both his undergraduate and medical degrees there, has built a unique career at the intersection of medicine, journalism, and public education. As the chief medical correspondent for CNN, he has spent more than two decades reporting on major global health issues while continuing to practice neurosurgery and teach medicine.

Throughout his career, Gupta has covered some of the most consequential health events of the modern era—from natural disasters and military conflicts to global disease outbreaks. His reporting has taken him around the world, and in several cases he has even performed emergency neurosurgery while embedded with medical teams in crisis zones.

In addition to his work in journalism, Gupta is an associate professor of neurosurgery at Emory University School of Medicine and associate chief of neurosurgery at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta. He is also a bestselling author, documentary producer, and host of the CNN podcast Chasing Life, which explores longevity, health, and well-being.

His contributions to medicine and public health communication have earned numerous honors, including Emmy Awards for journalism and election to the prestigious National Academy of Medicine.