Dempsey, Edward W. (Edward Wheeler), 1911-1975

Dr. Edward Wheeler Dempsey (1911-1975) served as Dean of the Washington University School of Medicine from 1958-64. Dr. Dempsey was a graduate of Marietta College, Marietta, Ohio, and received master of science and doctor of philosophy degrees in biology from Brown University. He was a member of the faculty of the Harvard Medical School from 1938 until coming to Washington University as Professor and Head of the Department of Anatomy in 1950. He continued as Head of Anatomy after being named Dean, and retained that appointment until 1966. In 1964 he resigned from the deanship to serve in President Lyndon B. Johnson's administration as Special Assistant to the Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare. Upon his return from Washington in 1966 he was appointed to the Chair of Anatomy at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University. He later served as a Visiting Professor at Stanford University.