Sam joined the Department in 2016 and has held both undergraduate and postgraduate teaching roles. She graduated from the University of Otago and after some time in surgery, moved to general practice, spending her early years involved in teaching within the practice.She took on the role of medical educator for vocational training in the Wellington General Practice Education Programme (GPEP) in 2007. In 2009 she became National Clinical Lead for the first year of GPEP and the Post-graduate Rural General Practice programme for PGY1 and PGY2 medical students. She became the first Medical Director of the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (RNZCGP)in 2012. She was awarded Distinguished Fellowship of RNZCGP in 2016, was nominated as President of the College in 2018 and holds this role currently. In 2021 she was awarded a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
Teaching activities
Sam has a passion for minor surgery, has written, illustrated and self-published a book on this and teaches both suturing skills and dermatology to 4th and 5th year medical students. She has been co-convenor of the Wellington 6th year ALM general practice module for four years.
She co-convenes two distance-taught postgraduate papers on Primary Health Care in New Zealand, and Strategy and Leadership in Primary Health Care.
Research interests
Sam has long had an interest in art and a passion for patients understanding what health professionals are saying. She is undertaking research on 'Art in the Art of Medicine' looking at the use of drawing to explain concepts in patient and health professional interactions.
She has also been involved in research around student learning.