Dr. Louis Profeta

Emergency physician, author, and nationally recognized speaker on sex, drugs, drinking, dying, and the real consequences of risk.

Dr. Louis M. Profeta is a nationally recognized, award-winning writer, TED Talk speaker, and Emergency Physician at St. Vincent Hospital of Indianapolis, a level 1 trauma center. He has cared for more than 160,000 patients. He is the best-selling author of the critically acclaimed book The Patient in Room Nine Says He’s God. He is a dynamic and sought-after public speaker and frequent guest on TV and radio. He has gained critical acclaim for his poignant essays and writings for LinkedIn Pulse Magazine on topics such as our national heroin crisis in When the Lion Kills Your Child, end-of-life care in I Know You Love Me Now Let Me Die, and dozens of similar essays. In 2015, 2016, and 2017 he was named LinkedIn Top Voice for readership in health care. His scathingly sarcastic but passionate essay Your Kid and My Kid Aren’t Playing in the Pros was honored as one of the best articles on sports by the Society of Professional Journalism. In 2018, he was honored by the National Society of Newspaper Columnists for outstanding contribution to online media. His essays entitled A Sunday Talk on Sex, Drugs, Drinking and Dying and A Very Dangerous Place for a Child is College may be the most read and shared essays in history on the topic of drugs, sexual assault, and alcohol abuse on college campuses, having been read by millions. His 2018 essay I’ll Look at Your Facebook Profile Before I Tell Your Mother You’re Dead has become one of the most read articles in the world on social media.

Following the success of A Sunday Talk on Sex, Drugs, Drinking and Dying, Dr. Profeta has been invited to speak all over the country on this topic. Dr. Profeta has told hundreds of parents their children have been killed over his career and he brings this reality to campuses across America. Some have described this as the most brutal, realistic, and impactful presentation ever given on the topic. He is rapidly becoming recognized as one of the most widely read opinion essayists in America today, including LinkedIn Top Voice in Health Care in

Dr. Profeta is a proud member of Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity.

A Sampling of Where He Has Spoken:

Miami of Ohio

Indiana University

University of Missouri

Missouri State University

University of Texas

University of Tennessee

University of Oregon

Purdue University

Arkansas State University

West Virginia University

Rose-Hulman University

Indiana State University

Randolph Macon College

Wabash University

Sigma Alpha Mu National Convention

Theta Chi National Convention

Lambda Chi Alpha National Convention

Phi Gamma Delta National Convention

Pace Academy Atlanta Georgia

University of Arizona

Park Tudor School

Risk Management on the Road Conference

In addition, Dr. Profeta has spoken at numerous high schools, parents’ organizations, fraternities and sororities, and college athletic teams, and major medical conferences on the issues of drugs, alcohol, and sexual assaults on college campuses.

Following the presentations for students, Dr. Profeta stays for question-and-answer sessions, usually with administrators out of the room, in order to give the students an open opportunity to ask questions in a safe environment. The inquiries are chilling and cast a light on where the disconnect is for these students.

He routinely exposes the gaps in their education in regards to drugs and alcohol.
Educates them in the actual biology and physiology of these agents.
Exposes the pitfalls of sharing, mixing, or abusing prescription and over-the-counter medications.
Educates them to the dangers of edible marijuana compounds.
Exposes them to personally, criminal, and civil liability risks of just “watching” a friend who is under the influence, underage consumption, DUI, serving alcohol to minors and public intoxication or possession.
Uncovers the urban myths and legends surrounding these compounds.
Offers them suggestions in responsible drinking, both for the individual and in a social setting.
Focuses on the responsibility to each other in ensuring the safety of the group, and the liability and financial pitfalls of hosting a social event involving alcohol.
Educates the students in regards to the emergence of complex mental health issues in the college setting.
Discusses hazing and behaviors meant to humiliate or belittle an individual.
Discusses behaviors that put students at risk of being sexually assaulted or at risk of being a victimizer in their own right.
Discusses the devastation they will leave in their wake should they be killed or should they have a part in the death of another student.

Obviously, his own career path and experiences, and his ability to connect on their level is a reason this talk works. In addition, with every presentation he exposes the fluid nature and ever-changing risks as new designer drugs hit the streets, or novel delivery methods of alcohol and drug abuse or discovered.

Read his large conference feedback scores and comments by clicking here:

Dr. Louis Profeta Reviews

Alcohol & Drug Abuse Prevention speaker
4 Presentations
4 Videos

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Contact Info

Email: bookings@greekuniversity.org

Phone: 203-58-GREEK

To book Dr. Profeta for your campus or conference: bookings@greekuniversity.org

Presentations

PRESENTATION: A Sunday Talk on Sex, Drugs, Drinking and Dying

Dr. Louis M. Profeta, a nationally recognized emergency physician and acclaimed author, delivers a gripping, unflinching program designed to confront the realities of campus life. In A Sunday Talk on Sex, Drugs, Drinking, and Dying, Dr. Profeta brings over 25 years of experience in emergency medicine, having cared for more than 160,000 patients and personally delivered devastating news to hundreds of families. His powerful presentation draws from real-life experiences and poignant essays that have reached millions, including his widely shared LinkedIn essay, "A Sunday Talk on Sex, Drugs, Drinking, and Dying With Frat Boys".

This presentation addresses critical issues facing today’s students—alcohol abuse, drug misuse, and the life-altering consequences of poor decision-making. Delivered with raw honesty, emotional depth, and professional authority, Dr. Profeta equips students with the tools and mindset necessary to prioritize safety and accountability. His program is as much a wake-up call as it is a call to action, challenging students to redefine their social norms and make choices that protect themselves and their peers. Dr. Profeta’s program has been lauded as “eye-opening,” “life-changing,” and “intensely impactful” by students and administrators alike. Featured at major conferences such as AFLV Central and SGLA, this presentation resonates deeply, leaving audiences equipped to make safer, smarter decisions.

Learning Outcomes:

Understand the physiological and legal risks associated with visible intoxication and substance misuse, emphasizing the importance of medical intervention.
Recognize the dangers of sharing prescription medications and implement zero-tolerance policies to safeguard student health.
Establish robust measures to prevent opiate misuse, including secure storage and immediate response protocols for students prescribed such medications.
Identify the inherent risks of drinking games as coercive and harmful activities that violate fraternity and university policies.
Encourage accountability through mandated counseling for students struggling with substance abuse and enforce strict consequences for violations.

PRESENTATION: Three Lessons That Will Change Your Life Forever

Three Lessons is an incredibly moving and heart wrenching tour through the world of medicine and the obligations doctors have to society outside of the walls of their hospitals, just as the fraternity/sorority community has obligations to their local community and has global impact. It has been described by many as the single most powerful lecture they have ever experienced and for many has helped them recaptured their passion and purpose. It will leave you breathless.

Objectives:

To help fraternity and sorority students expand their educational footprint outside the campus.
To show the role social media plays in education.
To help students understand their influence in their community.
To understand the role of cooperative efforts across all of Greek Life.
To understand the role of student dialogue in opening new campus initiatives.
To reinvigorate Greek Life as to the incredible stories that exist within our community and how that appreciation will help decrease student burnout.
To give a lecture that will shake you to the core, elevate your spirit to new heights and leave you saying…HOLY COW, THIS CHANGED MY LIFE.

This is the lecture that will make your students, cry, laugh and stand up and cheer.

PRESENTATION: Viral Social Media: How to Write Content That Will Be Read by Millions

Some people have powerful stories. Others know how to tell them. Very few can do both — but Dr. Louis M. Profeta is one of those rare individuals.

A nationally recognized emergency physician, bestselling author, and award-winning essayist, Dr. Profeta is also one of the most followed voices on LinkedIn. His compelling essays have been read by over twenty million people — and there’s a good chance you’ve encountered his work without even knowing it. Through the power of social media, he has translated his writing into a thriving career in public speaking, consulting, and book sales, generating hundreds of thousands of dollars in revenue. But the path to virality isn’t without its risks.

In this candid and practical session, Dr. Profeta shares what he’s learned from decades of writing viral content — dating back to before Facebook existed. He’ll walk you through how to craft shareable stories, grow your influence, build your professional brand, and open doors you never imagined. He’ll also offer hard-won advice on the pitfalls of going viral — including how to handle backlash, trolls, and the high stakes of a public platform.

Dr. Profeta is the bestselling author of The Patient in Room Nine Says He’s God and has earned numerous awards for his contributions to online media from organizations such as the Society of Professional Journalists, the National Society of Newspaper Columnists, and Writer’s Digest.

Before you post your next piece of content — you’ll want to hear what he has to say.

If your goal is to write content that reaches millions, this is the talk you can’t afford to miss.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

Identify the key elements of writing viral social media content
Understand the potential risks and ethical considerations of going viral
Explore strategies for monetizing viral content through books, speaking, and consulting
Leverage social media to build authentic connections and expand professional opportunities
Develop effective responses to online criticism, negativity, and trolls

PRESENTATION: A Cup of Coffee with a Twenty-Year-Old Me

The Conversation Every College Student Needs Before Real Life Starts

What would you ask someone who has seen life at its absolute best… and absolute worst?

For more than 30 years, Dr. Louis M. Profeta has worked in the Emergency Room caring for more than 170,000 patients. He has witnessed incredible triumphs, heartbreaking tragedies, life-changing mistakes, and the everyday choices that quietly shape who people become.

Now imagine sitting down with him over coffee and asking the questions every college student secretly wonders about:

How do I actually build a successful life?
What decisions matter most in your twenties?
What mistakes should I avoid?
What really leads to happiness?
How do you find purpose and meaning?
What regrets do people carry later in life?
What would you tell your 20-year-old self?

In this unforgettable and deeply personal presentation, Dr. Profeta combines powerful storytelling, humor, hard-earned wisdom, and real-life experiences from the front lines of medicine to deliver a message students will carry with them long after graduation.

This isn’t a lecture about “doing the right thing.”

It’s an honest conversation about life.

Students will leave challenged to think differently about:

Relationships and friendships
Mental health and self-worth
Success and fulfillment
Time, priorities, and personal choices
Building a meaningful future
The difference between simply existing and truly living

Raw, funny, emotional, and incredibly real, this program resonates with students from every background because it speaks to the universal questions all young adults are trying to answer.

Sometimes the advice that changes your life is surprisingly simple. Sometimes it feels like having coffee with the person you hope to become someday.

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Testimonials

"Thank you for coming to speak with our men Monday evening. We have gotten rave reviews from several of the chapters that were in attendance and that cannot be said for every speaker that we bring to campus."
Grant Parker, Assistant Director of Fraternal Leadership & Learning at Ole Miss

"I attended your talk with the WVU women's swim team this past Monday. I just wanted to reach out to you and thank you once again for your willingness to come speak with us. I, alongside many of my teammates, found your words to be incredibly powerful. As soon as I left the football stadium Monday night, I got in my car and called my dad. I tried explaining what I just sat and listened to but I could barely even understand myself, as I was quickly overwhelmed with tears. I apologized for every stupid thing I have done thus far in my life (and that took a while), and told him I never wanted to put him through the pain of losing me so I would finally "make good decisions" like he has been telling me my whole life, or at least since the day he knew I was going to be a hellion. I have a very close and special bond with my parents so I am able to share many of my experiences with them, sometimes leaving them a bit concerned. But after sharing a special phone conversation about your speech with my dad and later with my mom on Monday night, I believe we have reached a new level of respect, trust and understanding. And although they could not be there to hear your words for themselves, I know they have appreciation and give you great thanks for your time and message."
Women's WVU Swim Team Athlete

"I would like to thank Dr. Louis Profeta for coming to speak to 546 of the fraternity men here at The University of Tennessee. I reached out to him as I had read his article "A Sunday talk on sex, drugs, drinking and dying with the frat boys" and believed that he would bring an honest and brutal perspective to our men that they normally do not hear, and he did not disappoint. Dr. Profeta's no nonsense and unique lecture kept everyone captivated throughout the hour. I had several men ask me before the talk if they could leave early. I looked over at the end, and they were all still there. I saw very few phones which on a college campus is a rare sight in any auditorium. After Dr. Profeta ended, I had multiple men tell me that this was unlike anything else they had seen and was the first presentation that truly hit home and resonated with them. I hope that his realistic portrayal of alcohol and substance abuse and the horrible consequences that follow them makes the men in our community think twice before making some decisions. If his words save one life on our campus, the cost of bringing him in will be priceless."
Caden Throneberry, IFC President at University of Tennessee, Knoxville