It is with deep sorrow that the South Carolina Rural Health
Research Center announces the passing of its founding Director, Dr.
Michael E. Samuels.
Dr. Samuels, subsequent to service with the US Navy, had an outstanding
public health career and a pronounced effect on rural health across the
US. Early in his career with the US Department of Health and Human
Services, he obtained the legislative authority and implemented the
Health Underserved Rural Areas Research Program in the Health Resources
and Services Administration (HRSA), predecessor to the current Office of
Rural Health Policy. In recent years, Dr. Samuels received both the
Distinguished Research Award (2002) and the Distinguished Educator Award
(2010) of the National Rural Health Association, as well as the C.
Everett Koop Medal of Appreciation from the Koop Institute (2005).
Dr. Samuels’ passion for social justice motivated a long career in
public health administration and public health education. Throughout
that time, he never stopped fighting for equitable health care for rural
poor, underserved and minority populations. We honor his memory and
are inspired further to continue his work.
Dr. Samuels' personal obituary is available at the Winston-Salem Journal.
