OLLI has reserved a block of tickets for this event. Location: Aronoff Center, 650 Walnut Street, 45202; Balcony rows G & H, center. Block includes 2 wheelchair accessible locations.

The Mary S. Stern Lecture with Atul Gawande, M.D.: Rethinking Life, Care, and Dignity at the End 

What does it mean to live well — right to the very end? 

Bestselling author, acclaimed surgeon, and public health leader Atul Gawande, M.D., comes to Cincinnati for a powerful evening exploring how medicine, families, and communities can better support quality of life in our most vulnerable moments.

On Tuesday, October 27, 2026, at 7 p.m., the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library will present The Mary S. Stern Lecture with Atul Gawande, M.D. at the Aronoff Center for the Arts, followed by a book signing. This ticketed event is made possible through an endowment to the The Library Foundation. 

Drawing from his groundbreaking book Being Mortal, Gawande challenges how we think about aging, serious illness, and end-of-life care — arguing that comfort, autonomy, and human connection should be at the center of medical decision-making. With clarity, compassion, and storytelling that resonates far beyond medicine, he invites audiences to consider how we can ensure not just a longer life, but a better one. 

This conversation is relevant for caregivers, healthcare professionals, patients, families, and anyone navigating complex choices about care, aging, or what matters most at the end of life. 

To learn more about the Stern Lecture and Dr. Gawande, and to see booklists and events tied to this event, visit www.chpl.org/stern.