Samuel E. Wilson, MD, is Professor of Surgery at the University of California, Irvine. A native of Ireland, Dr. Wilson completed his undergraduate and medical school education at Wayne State University in Detroit.

From Michigan, he moved west to the Los Angeles County General—University of Southern California Hospital for internship. He subsequently received his training in general surgery at the Wadsworth Veterans Administration Medical Center, UCLA Medical Center and Children’s Hospital, Los Angeles. After 2 years in the U.S. Air Force as a surgeon, he returned to UCLA to join the faculty, working primarily at the Wadsworth VA and UCLA Medical Centers. In 1982, Dr. Wilson was appointed chair of the Department of Surgery at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. In 1992, Dr. Wilson was recruited to Orange County to serve as chair of the Department of Surgery at University of California, Irvine until 2005, when he was appointed Associate Dean. Dr. Wilson is board-certified in general and vascular surgery, maintains an active surgical practice and is Chief, Surgical Service at VA Long Beach Regional Medical Center. He has served as President of the Pacific Coast Surgical Association.