About Me
Philip is an Associate Professor of Research in the Division of Perceptual Studies (DOPS) at the University of Virginia School of Medicine. Philip received his Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Minnesota in 2006 and spent 17 years at the University of Essex in the United Kingdom prior to joining DOPS.
Philip’s research explores how individuals seek meaning in life, inspired by evidence from DOPS-generated research into near-death experiences. Philip is responsible for a psychological model that links healthy and honest considerations of mortality to increased well-being, heightened desires for self-direction, and more authentic living. At DOPS, Philip’s focus is on investigating reports of past-life memories from children around the world, and on understanding the psychological consequences of near-death experiences.