Scott Stonington

Scott Stonington is an Associate Professor of Anthropology and Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine at the University of Michigan. His research bridges medical anthropology and clinical practice, focusing on biomedical ethics, end-of-life care in Thailand, and global pain management debates. He holds an MD from UC San Francisco, a PhD in Medical Anthropology from UC Berkeley/UCSF, and a BS from Stanford University.

• Education: Stanford BS (2000), UC Berkeley/UCSF PhD (2009), UCSF MD (2011), Brigham and Women’s Hospital Residency (2015)

His primary research examines how ethical frameworks intersect with medical practices in transnational contexts. His book The Spirit Ambulance explores Thai deathbed rituals and the 'spirit ambulance' phenomenon, while his current work analyzes opiate use ethics amid Thailand's drug policies and Buddhist beliefs. Secondary research investigates how U.S. medical practitioners validate knowledge, informed by his dual role as physician and anthropologist.

Active in interdisciplinary programs such as the Program in International and Comparative Studies (PICS) and Center for Southeast Asian Studies (CSEAS), Stonington also serves on DHRC Faculty Associates and PICS Core Faculty. His clinical practice spans hospital and primary care settings.