Local Surgeon Receives “Excellence in Teaching” Award

Russell H. Samson, MD, FACS, DFSVS, RVT, received the “Excellence in Teaching” Award at this year’s Florida Vascular Society (“FVS”) Scientific Sessions in Hollywood, Florida. He is only the second surgeon to receive this honor, which is given to a deserving FVS member who has demonstrated dedication to teaching in the field of Vascular Surgery. One may call him a universal man, as he is not only a private practice surgeon, but also an academic, an international editor and speaker, and an inventor.

Samson’s dedication to the prosperity and advancement of medicine well surpasses his 30+ years as a respected surgeon in Sarasota. Samson’s foundation is in academics, where he joined the teaching staff at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in 1980, achieving the rank of Associate Professor of Surgery. He served as Director of the Noninvasive Vascular Laboratories and as Chief of Vascular Surgery at Bronx Municipal Center, New York City, from 1980-1986. Today, Dr. Samson is a Clinical Professor of Surgery (Vascular) at Florida State University Medical School.

From a literary standpoint alone, he has served as an editor for Rutherford’s “Vascular Surgery” (the premier textbook in the field of vascular diseases), as well as three other notable international Vascular journals. And from 2013 to 2018 he was also the Medical Editor of “Vascular Specialist,” which is the official publication of the Society for Vascular Surgery – the largest vascular society in world. Additionally, Samson has written 98 scientific papers and 27 textbook chapters related to vascular surgery.

As a recognized thought-leader, Dr. Samson has served as an invited speaker at hundreds of scientific meetings throughout the U.S. and abroad and has received numerous awards for his contributions to medicine. He is a Distinguished Fellow of the Society for Vascular Surgery, has served on multiple statewide and national committees and, on a local level, has served as the Chief of Surgery for both Sarasota Memorial Hospital and Doctors Hospital. He is a member of virtually every vascular professional society and also happens to be a founding Member and past President of the Florida Vascular Society.

Samson has also developed software to report vascular lab studies and to assess clinical outcomes (Atrium Patient Database Software®). He was the developer of the Jobst UlcerCare® stocking, which is used throughout the world to treat vein disorders, and he holds patents for a novel anticoagulant as well as structured exercise treatment for Peripheral Arterial Disease. Additionally, he has developed surgical instruments for varicose vein removal.

Russell Samson’s work, and that of his Sarasota Vascular Specialist Partners (Dorsay, Hershberger, Lepore, Nair, Parrack, and Showalter), have made Sarasota a world-famous destination for Vascular Surgery.

Dr. Samson is married to Susan Samson, and has two grown Sarasota-raised children, and three grandchildren.