Medical Expert, Military General Among Desert Town Hall Speakers

Medical expert Sanjay Gupta, Newsweek editor Tina Brown, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and Gen. Stanley McChrystal will headline the Desert Town Hall speaker series next year, it was announced Tuesday.

The 21st season of the series, held at the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa in Indian Wells, will kick off on Jan. 29 with Gupta, a neurosurgeon, author and chief medical correspondent for CNN. All talks start at 6 p.m., event spokeswoman Chris Martello said.

Brown will speak on Feb. 9; Bush on March 7; and 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 Secretary of Defense 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 withuot 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 www.deserttownhall.org.