Brett Dempsey (Pre-Medicine ’03) has lived in a variety of places since graduating from Pensacola Christian College. From the rainy climate of Bangladesh to the desert conditions of Arizona, from the plains of Missouri to the hills of Togo, West Africa, he has sought to use his medical training and share the gospel through everyday interactions.
Gaining His Skill Set
As a teenager, Dempsey carefully considered what to study in college. After losing his grandmother to cancer, he felt a pull toward medicine. “I also had an uncle who was in the medical field and encouraged me,” he noted.
Once at PCC, Dr. Dempsey invested time and energy into excelling in the pre-med program as he learned from teachers such as Dr. Carlos Alvarez. “Dr. Alvarez was amazing. He was a great teacher and took any serious pre-med students under his wing,” Dr. Dempsey said. “He wasn’t my advisor, but he was a huge encouragement. He played a huge role with me getting into medical school.”
Dr. Dempsey continued his education at the University of Illinois College of Medicine; there he gained his M.D. before doing his residency at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.
Serving Overseas
From 2014 to 2018, Dr. Brett Dempsey, his wife Meghan (Pre-Medicine ’03), and their children lived in Bangladesh where Dr. Dempsey worked as a general surgeon at a Baptist mission hospital. It was his vocation that allowed him to get into the restricted-access country. “We went as missionaries, but it felt like God worked a lot more on us than through us. One of the things that struck me the most was the importance of the little things,” Dr. Dempsey said. “I wanted to go overseas and do something big for God. However, I truly believe my greatest impact was in small things each day.”
Dr. Dempsey realized this truth through talking with some believers in Bangladesh. “They were mentioning the doctors they admired and the reasons why they were good doctors. It had nothing to do with brilliant medical decisions or lifesaving surgeries but how the doctors live their lives and how they treated people that impacted them,” he said. “My biggest testimony for Christ overseas was in the small things.”
“One of the things that struck me the most was the importance of the little things.”
Though the Dempseys left Bangladesh in 2018, their heart for ministry continued. Dr. Dempsey worked in the States for two years before moving to Togo, West Africa, for one. Then, he completed a Surgical Critical Care Fellowship at the University of Missouri before transitioning to his most recent position in Arizona.
Making a Difference Stateside
Two years ago, Dr. Dempsey, his wife, and their seven children began a new adventure. “We wanted to live out West because we had visited before,” Dr. Dempsey explained. “There are a lot of opportunities to work with the Native American population, particularly the Navajo.”
Out West, Dr. Dempsey took a position as an acute care surgeon in Flagstaff, Arizona. “At Flagstaff Medical Center, I cover the surgical ICU at night. I also cover trauma and emergency general surgery calls,” he said. In addition to doing surgeries, Dr. Dempsey helps as adjunct faculty for the University of Arizona by offering instruction to surgical residents who are completing clinical rotations.
Shortly after starting the job in Flagstaff, Dr. Dempsey also began working as a general surgeon at Tuba City Regional Healthcare Corporation in Arizona, which is located on the western portion of the Navajo Nation and within the impressive Painted Desert. “My daily responsibilities at Tuba City include general surgery clinic, elective and emergency general surgery cases, responding to traumas, and teaching the second-year general surgery resident,” Dr. Dempsey said.
“Do not wait until you are done with training to be a light for Christ. The mission field starts now.”
Whether overseas or working stateside, Dr. Dempsey’s desire is to use his skill set to open doors of opportunity for sharing the gospel. “God is encouraging me to find a way to reach the Native American population,” he said, “particularly the Navajo and Hopi, which are the major tribes here.”
With his experience, Dr. Dempsey has some advice for those wanting to use medicine for Christ:
“Do not wait until you are done with training to be a light for Christ—the mission field starts now. The training is long, and if you wait until you are done, you will lose valuable time. As a healthcare provider, people are often watching you; that is a great platform to start by being a witness through your behavior.” “Look at opportunities that are in our own country,” Dr. Brett Dempsey added. “The inner city and the reservations are just two examples of places that need both healthcare providers and the gospel. As a healthcare provider, you have a unique opportunity to help people during their suffering. Make the most of it.”
Read more about how God is directing and working through PCC faculty and alumni.