John Sampson
Gates Institute Advisory Board
John H. Sampson, MD, PhD, MHSc, MBA, is the Richard D. Krugman Endowed Chair, Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs, and the Dean of the University of Colorado School of Medicine. He was previously the Robert H. and Gloria Wilkins Distinguished Professor of Neurosurgery and Senior Vice President of Duke University Health System and the Duke Health Integrated Practice (DHIP), leading thousands of School of Medicine faculty, community physicians, psychologists, and advanced practice providers who are the clinical talent force for Duke University. He is a physician-scientist and member of the National Academy of Medicine. With a career spanning over 25 years, his journey is underscored by a relentless pursuit of excellence across clinical practice, research, education, and leadership domains. Throughout his tenure, he has inspired and mentored diverse teams and fostered a culture of innovation. As a transformational leader, Dr. Sampson has orchestrated collaborative change initiatives and successfully converted visionary ideas into actionable plans.
As a surgeon-scientist, he holds a deep commitment to advancing new therapies into the clinic and compassionately treating patients with brain tumors and other diseases of the nervous system. He has authored nearly 300 peer-reviewed publications in prestigious journals and the held the distinction of being the highest NIH-funded investigator in his field for several consecutive years. Educating and nurturing the next generation of healthcare leaders is a cornerstone of Dr. Sampson's career. His dedication to training surgeons, physicians, scientists, and students is evident in the numerous alumni who now occupy leadership positions across the nation's top academic programs.
As the Inaugural Chair of the Department of Neurosurgery at Duke, he championed faculty and student led innovative educational programs such as the Surgical Autonomy Program; the Learner Mentorship, Leadership, and Coaching program; and the Global Neurosurgery Program. These initiatives not only advanced patient care and education but also extended the impact of these trainees to underprivileged regions globally. He also pioneered the Neuro-innovations Program, which provided training for students at all levels on entrepreneurial activities; and executed on a strategic initiative to develop the WellSpentMD App, which effectively reduced burnout by rewarding clinicians and learners with congratulations and encouragement. Dr. Sampson's commitment to innovation extends beyond education and clinical practice, as evidenced by his leadership in several entrepreneurial ventures and board positions in health systems, foundations, and private and publicly-traded companies outside of Duke.
Dr. Sampson's academic journey began with a medical degree in Canada, followed by a PhD in neuroimmunology and MHSc in clinical research at Duke University. He did his research training under the internationally renowned neuro-oncologist, Darell D. Bigner, and Nobel Laureate, Gertrude Elion. Recognizing the importance of health sector management, he further honed his skills with an MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, earning the distinction of Fuqua Scholar as a top tier graduate. Beyond his professional pursuits, Dr. Sampson finds joy in family time, a passion for racing cars and critiquing Hi-Fi music with his sons, and a commitment to physical well-being through Peloton cycling and trail running, complemented by the practice of meditation.