Notable Alums
Specialty: Vascular Surgery
Graduation Year: 1965
Samuel Wilson
Samuel Wilson, M.D. ’65, is a board-certified general and vascular surgeon, professor of Surgery at the University of California, Irvine, and chief of Surgery at VA Long Beach Regional Medical Center. After receiving his medical degree from the Wayne State University School of Medicine, Dr. Wilson completed an internship at University of Southern California, followed by general surgery training at Wadsworth Veterans Administration Medical Center, UCLA Medical Center and Children’s Hospital.
After two years as an Air Force surgeon, Dr. Wilson returned to Wadsworth/UCLA to join the faculty in 1972. He was appointed chair of the Department of Surgery at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in 1982. He was recruited to serve as chair of the Department of Surgery at University of California, Irvine. in 1992, then appointed associate dean in 2005. He also has served as president of the Pacific Coast Surgical Association, the Southern California Chapter, American College of Surgeons and the Los Angeles Surgical Society.
Dr. Wilson maintains an active surgical practice and is chief of Surgical Service at VA Long Beach Regional Medical Center. His clinical research focus is vascular disease, particularly endovascular treatment of aortic aneurysm. He has been surgical chair of three national cooperative trials in peripheral vascular disease.
Dr. Wilson has published more than 400 articles and 16 textbooks, including “Vascular Surgery” (4ed) and “Vascular Access: Principles and Practice” (5ed).
Among his honors, Dr. Wilson received the WSU School of Medicine Alumni Association’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 1990. The award is presented annually to one or more alumni who have made outstanding contributions to humanitarian causes, whose contributions to the health field in the broader sense are outstanding or for service to the Wayne State University School of Medicine.
After two years as an Air Force surgeon, Dr. Wilson returned to Wadsworth/UCLA to join the faculty in 1972. He was appointed chair of the Department of Surgery at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in 1982. He was recruited to serve as chair of the Department of Surgery at University of California, Irvine. in 1992, then appointed associate dean in 2005. He also has served as president of the Pacific Coast Surgical Association, the Southern California Chapter, American College of Surgeons and the Los Angeles Surgical Society.
Dr. Wilson maintains an active surgical practice and is chief of Surgical Service at VA Long Beach Regional Medical Center. His clinical research focus is vascular disease, particularly endovascular treatment of aortic aneurysm. He has been surgical chair of three national cooperative trials in peripheral vascular disease.
Dr. Wilson has published more than 400 articles and 16 textbooks, including “Vascular Surgery” (4ed) and “Vascular Access: Principles and Practice” (5ed).
Among his honors, Dr. Wilson received the WSU School of Medicine Alumni Association’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 1990. The award is presented annually to one or more alumni who have made outstanding contributions to humanitarian causes, whose contributions to the health field in the broader sense are outstanding or for service to the Wayne State University School of Medicine.