David Vago

David Vago Speaking Topics

• The Science of Meditation and Mindfulness

  In today’s demanding world, rising stress, burnout, and feelings of isolation are common, underscoring the urgent need for practical strategies to enhance resilience, connection, and well-being.

  Drawing on over 20 years of research at leading institutions like Harvard, Vanderbilt, and Cornell, Dr. David Vago provides science-backed insights into how mindfulness and meditation can transform mental, emotional, and physical health. Dr. Vago’s work highlights the neurobiological mechanisms through which mindfulness reshapes the brain, promoting stress resilience, emotional balance, mental flexibility, reduced chronic pain, and well-being.

  Dr. Vago offers accessible, evidence-based strategies to integrate mindfulness into daily life, healthcare settings, and workplace cultures. His engaging presentations empower audiences to adopt growth mindsets, improve focus, and build resilience, equipping individuals and organizations to navigate modern challenges effectively. Whether addressing personal mental health or transforming workplace environments, Dr. Vago delivers actionable solutions to help people thrive in an increasingly complex world.

• The Science of Longevity & Living Well

  Dr. David Vago’s presentation on longevity and well-being bridges the science of lifespan -- how long we live -- and healthspan -- how well we live, free from chronic diseases. Drawing on over 20 years of research at Harvard and Vanderbilt, Dr. Vago offers evidence-based strategies to enhance vitality and decelerate aging. He explores cutting-edge advancements like caloric restriction, rapamycin, metformin, and senolytics—drugs designed to clear aging cells and reduce inflammation. Dr. Vago also highlights supplements such as omega-3-rich fish oil, adaptogenic mushrooms for brain health, and vitamins A and D for combating oxidative stress. By integrating neuroscience, integrative health, and lifestyle medicine, he provides practical, science-backed tools to reduce risks of chronic illness, improve brain health, and foster resilience.

  Attendees will gain actionable insights into personalized lifestyle changes, including stress management, mindfulness, restorative sleep, and nutrition. Dr. Vago demystifies the science of aging, explaining distinctions between chronological and biological age, and offering practical steps to push the biological boundaries of aging. His presentation empowers individuals and organizations to navigate aging with clarity and adopt sustainable practices for a healthier, longer life, equipping participants with tools to enhance both healthspan and lifespan.

• The Future of Digital Health, AI and Wellbeing

  Dr. David Vago’s presentation explores how cutting-edge advancements in digital health are revolutionizing mental health care. Drawing from his extensive experience as a science advisor and research lead in the digital health industry, Dr. Vago highlights the transformative role of AI, digital therapeutics, and mind-body health apps in creating accessible, effective, and personalized solutions for mental health challenges.

  Dr. Vago examines AI-driven innovations, including real-time chatbots, virtual health assistants, AI-powered diagnostics, and clinical decision-making tools that enhance precision care. He also discusses the integration of robotics, streamlined administrative workflows, and improved patient-provider communication, all of which reduce healthcare burdens while improving outcomes. Additionally, he addresses the role of AI in fostering behavioral change, ensuring regulatory compliance, and promoting equity and inclusivity in mental health solutions.

  This presentation provides actionable strategies for health innovators, industry leaders, and policymakers to integrate evidence-based approaches into AI-enabled care. Dr. Vago offers a forward-looking perspective on leveraging AI at scale to promote resilience, wellness, and psychological well-being. Attendees will leave equipped with practical insights to navigate the complexities of digital health and harness AI’s transformative power to reshape mental health care.

• Breaking the Cycles of Stress & Burnout for Optimizing Performance and Productivity

  Dr. David Vago’s presentation explores the profound impact of chronic stress on both mental and physical health, revealing how it triggers inflammation linked to mental health challenges, cardiovascular disease, and weakened immunity. Backed by cutting-edge research in neuroscience, physiology, and the mind-body connection, Dr. Vago shows how perception and mindset shape the body’s stress response -- determining whether stress leads to harm or becomes a tool for resilience, confidence, and peak performance.

  Through relatable examples and actionable insights, Dr. Vago highlights science-backed strategies like mindfulness, breathwork, physical activity, and fostering meaningful social connections. These interventions not only break the stress-inflammation cycle but also enhance neuroplasticity, reduce inflammation, and build emotional and physical resilience.

  Dr. Vago also addresses workplace burnout, offering solutions drawn from five years in the well-being industry. He presents evidence-based strategies, including mindfulness programs, data-driven initiatives, and workplace policies that promote psychological safety and flexibility. These approaches reduce absenteeism, lower healthcare costs, and boost productivity, delivering measurable ROI.

  Attendees will leave equipped with practical techniques to manage stress, combat burnout, and foster thriving work-life balance. Dr. Vago empowers participants to transform stress into a catalyst for growth, resilience, and organizational success.

• The Science of Psychedelics for Mental Health

  Dr. David Vago’s presentation explores the groundbreaking potential of psychedelics as transformative tools for treating mental health conditions like depression, PTSD, and addiction. Backed by cutting-edge research, Dr. Vago delves into the neurochemical mechanisms and brain network models that explain how psychedelics promote healing through enhanced neuroplasticity and profound shifts in cognition and emotion.

  Dr. Vago explains key concepts, such as the entropic brain hypothesis, which highlights how psychedelics disrupt rigid patterns of thinking to enable cognitive and emotional "resetting," and network modularity, which enhances communication between brain networks, supporting new perspectives and emotional processing. He also provides insights into therapeutic protocols, clinical trials, and the ethical challenges of integrating psychedelics into mainstream mental health care.

  Attendees will gain a balanced understanding of the promise and limitations of psychedelics, including their potential to catalyze transformative healing experiences. Dr. Vago emphasizes the importance of careful, science-led approaches to ensure their safe and effective use. This presentation equips participants with the knowledge to navigate the evolving field of psychedelic-assisted therapy and understand how these substances are revolutionizing the treatment of mental health and well-being.