Historical perspectives of The American Association for Thoracic Surgery: Paul C. Samson (1905–1982)

Abstract

FIGURE 1. Paul ‘‘Buck’’ Samson. Courtesy of Pacific Coast Surgical Association. Paul C. Samson (Figure 1), the 48th president of The American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS), was born in Emporia, Kansas, in 1905. Growing up in the Midwest, he attended the University of Michigan, from which he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Medicine and a Doctorate of Medicine cum laude in 1928. At 6 feet 6 inches tall, Samson acquired the nickname ‘‘Buck,’’ not only for his formidable stature but also for his physical prowess and competitiveness. At the University of Michigan, he was an All-American swimmer, National Collegiate Athletic Association champion freestyler, and a member of 2 national championship water polo teams. A recipient of the Big Ten Conference Medal of Honor in 1927 for excellence in scholarship and athletics, Samson extended his aquatic prowess to the international level as a member of the United States Olympic Team in 1928 in Amsterdam. He swam the first leg of the 800 meter relay in the qualifying heat; however, he did not swim in the final, which was won by the United States team. After graduation from medical school, Samson completed general surgical residency at Northwestern University, receiving his Master of Science in Surgery in 1935. He continued his surgical training at the University ofMichigan as one of the trainees in the first thoracic residency program, directed by John Alexander, 17th AATS president. At Ann Arbor, he also worked with Lyman Brewer, 54th AATS president, a close friend and colleague with whom he would later extensively collaborate. The Alexander tradition and heritage of thoracic surgery was carried to the West when Samson began surgical practice in Oakland, California, in 1937. He joined the staff of several hospitals and sanitariums for tuberculosis in northern California and served in the Army Reserve Medical Corps from 1931 to 1941. With involvement of the United States in World War II in December 1941, Samson joined the Second Auxillary Surgical Group and was deployed in the Mediterranean and European theaters. Along with treating traumatic injuries, he gained the distinction of