Sanjay Gupta kicks off Desert Town Hall speaker series

The 2013 Desert Town Hall speaker series kicks off its 21st season tonight with medical expert Sanjay Gupta as guest.

The program at the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa in Indian Wells will start at 6 p.m. Gupta is a neurosurgeon, author and chief medical correspondent for CNN.

Newsweek editor Tina Brown will speak on Feb. 9; former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush on March 7; and Gen. Stanley McChrystal, former commander of U.S. and international forces in Afghanistan, on March 28.

Last year’s lineup included former Vice President Dick Cheney and daughter Liz Cheney, author and New York Times columnist David Brooks, former Defense Secretary Robert Gates and ocean explorer Bob Ballard.

“We are pleased to present another spectacular lineup,” said Desert Town Hall board President Brian Harnik. “Desert Town Hall is a dynamic organization supported by sponsors, patrons and volunteers that focuses on bringing the finest speakers from around the world.”

Groups of local high school students are invited to hear the lectures and meet the speakers, Martello said.

Ticket packages for all four events run from $1,150 for a reserved seat with dinner to $500 for a reserved seat without dinner and $250 for an unreserved seat.

Single-lecture tickets are $350 for a reserved seat with dinner, $150 for a reserved seat and $75 for an unreserved seat.

For information, call (760) 610-2852 or go to http://www.deserttownhall.org.