Dr Ariel Dempsey
MD, DPhil
Dr. Ariel Dempsey is a physician and scholar working at the interface of medicine and theology. She earned her MD from Michigan State University College of Human Medicine and DPhil in Science & Religion from the University of Oxford, supervised by Alister McGrath and Matthew Kirkpatrick. She has a deep interest in how we navigate uncertainty in medicine, especially at the end of life, and explores what medicine can learn from religious traditions in living with uncertainty. Her doctoral research developed the concept of Palliating Uncertainty—an approach grounded in the values of palliative care and shaped by the philosophy of pragmatism. Ariel is also a member of the team that received the Oxford Vice-Chancellor’s Award in Teaching and the Medical Science Division Teaching Excellence Award for the development and teaching of a Medical Humanities Curriculum at the Oxford Medical School. She also led trauma-healing groups at a local church through the Trauma Healing Institute. After postdoctoral work, she will pursue residency in psychiatry with a fellowship in palliative care.
Ariel is grateful for the Wycliffe community which supported her during times of her own medical uncertainties (see TEDxTalk) and has deeply shaped her work on uncertainty.
She has been honored to present her doctoral research to medical practitioners at leading international palliative care congresses. She published her research in the upcoming edition of the Oxford Handbook of Palliative Care, was mentored by one of the founders of palliative care (Dr Robert Twycross), submitted written evidence on the Assisted Dying Bill, which was published by the UK Parliament, and teaches on spiritual care at the Oxford Medical School.
Ariel is also a professional cyr wheel artist and is fascinated by the way in which dance and movement can glimpse or become a conduit to that which isn’t easily contained in words. She enjoys projects that engage with movement and dance as a serious source of inquiry and insight.
Educational Background
• University of Oxford, DPhil Theology: Science & Religion
• Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, MD
• University of Oxford, MSt Theology: Science & Religion
• University of Michigan, BA
Research interests
Uncertainty, Palliative Care, End-of-Life Care, Spiritual Care, Pragmatism, William James, Søren Kierkegaard, Science & Religion, Decision Making Under Uncertainty, Medical Humanities, Religion/Spirituality & Health, Dance/Movement
Affiliations
- Postdoctoral Fellow in Health & Christian Ethics, University of Oxford Faculty of Theology
- Fellow of the Ian Ramsey Centre for Science & Religion
- Area Coordinator, Medical Humanities: Spirituality, Religion & Health
- Freelance Cyr Wheel Artist
Selected Works
Book Chapters & Articles
Dempsey, A. (forthcoming) “Uncertainty in Palliative Care” In Matthew Dore, Max Watson (eds.), Oxford Handbook of Palliative Care. Oxford University Press.
Bradley, V., Dempsey, A. (forthcoming). “Coping with Death: Challenges, Strategies, & Opportunities” In Irene Cormac, David Gray, Jane Marshall, Ros Ramsay (eds.), Life as a doctor: Strategies for when (and before) the 'going' gets tough. Cambridge University Press.
Dempsey, A. (2025). A Tribute to Robert Twycross: Pioneer of Palliative Care and His Hopes for the Future. Journal of Palliative Medicine. 28(4), 433-436
Dempsey, A. (2025). Palliating Uncertainty: Tools from the Pragmatism of William James, MD [DPhil thesis]. University of Oxford.
Dempsey, A. (2025). Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill: Written Evidence Submitted by Dr Ariel Dempsey. UK Parliament.
Harris, J., Moyse, A., Hadley, G., Lane, R., Frampton, S., Dempsey, A., Hordern, J., Saunders, K., and De Luca, G. (2024). Death, Dying, Culture and Compassion: The Museum as Reflective Space for Doctors-in-Training. Tutor, 24(2: Special Issue The Art of observation), 56–61.
Dempsey, A., & Mulder, J. (2023). Quality versus quantity of life: beyond the dichotomy. Palliative Medicine Reports, 3(1), 17-23.
Dempsey, A. (2023). “Theological Aesthetics and Clinical Care.” In Poltrum, M., Musalek, M., Galvin, K., & Saito, Y. The Oxford Handbook of Mental Health and Contemporary Western Aesthetics. Oxford University Press.
Dempsey, A. (2022). “How Can Bread and Wine Change Into Flesh and Blood?” St. Andrew Science-Engaged Theology: Theological Puzzles (Issue 11).
Talks & Presentations
Dempsey A. (2025). Palliating Uncertainty: Tools from the Pragmatism of William James, MD. Oxford Advanced Course in Pain and Symptom Management, Oxford Centre for Education and Research in Palliative Care, Newcastle/Oxford, England.
Dempsey A., Heafey C. (2025). Spiritual Care. Oxford Medical School, Oxford, UK.
Dempsey, A., Mulder, J., Beckrow, J. (Nov 2024) Palliative Matters Podcast: Approaching Uncertainty. Trillium Institute, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Dempsey, A., & Mulder, J. (2023). Living with Uncertainty in End-of-Life Care. Plenary presented at the UK Palliative Care Congress 2023 Plenary Address, Edinburgh, Scotland.
Dempsey, A. (2020). Live Like You're Dying?: Acting in Uncertainty. TEDxTalk.
A Few Dances
Dempsey, A. (2025). How the Light Comes. Oxford Festival of Dance, Oxford, UK
Dempsey, A. (2022) Candleburn Cyr, Detroit, MI.
Photo Credit: Sandra Devany
