The Health Consequences of Social Isolation with Former NFL Player Jonathan Martin & Beyond Differences Teen Leaders

Laura Talmus, Founder, Beyond Differences
Matt Pantell, MD, Pediatrician, UCSF
Jonathan Martin, Former NFL Offensive Tackle, Miami Dolphins, San Francisco 49ers; Member, Stanford University's Cardinals; National Spokesperson, Beyond Differences
Edyn Jensen and Carl Heil-Simpson, Teen Board Members, Beyond Differences

This panel will present eye-opening information about serious health and psychological effects of social isolation on youth. This dynamic panel of experts and student leaders will discuss everything from root causes of social isolation to alarming statistics that impact everything from academic failure—including increased school truancy rates—to adverse medical outcomes—including include the risk of obesity, substance abuse and poor cardiovascular health. From the perspective of scientists to students to celebrities, our panelists will talk about how policy leaders, parents, teachers, students and the media can help understand and end the epidemic of social isolation among our youth.

Laura Talmus is the founder of Beyond Differences, a Bay Area nonprofit that empowers youth to end social isolation and create more inclusive school environments. Dr. Matt Pantell is a UCSF pediatrician who was part of a research study in 2013 called “Social Isolation and Mortality: A Comparable Predictor to Mortality as Traditional Clinical Risk Factors“ American Journal of Public Health). Jonathan Martin is a former NFL offensive tackle for the Dolphins and 49ers, a member of Stanford University's Cardinals, and a national spokesperson for Beyond Differences. Edyn Jensen and Carl Heil-Simpson both represent high school students in the Beyond Differences leadership program.