Meyer-Michel Samama, MD, PharmD (1927–2014)

Meyer-Michel Samama, MD, PharmD (1927–2014)

When Michel Samama passed away on August 27, 2014, the world lost a distinguished scientist in the field of thrombosis and hemostasis.

Michel was born on October 18, 1927 in Tunis, Tunisia, and moved to France to study at the University Of Paris VI School Of Medicine. He obtained his degree of Pharmacist–Biochemist in 1951, and continued his medical training at the Broussais-Hotel-Dieu, University of Paris, receiving his MD degree in 1968. He stayed on at Hotel Dieu, the University Hospital of the University of Paris, and became the Director of the Laboratory of Hematology. He rose to full professorship in 1981 and was elected to the French National Academy of Pharmacy in 2001. He was the past president of the French Group on Thrombosis and Hemostasis and chairman of the Council of the Fibrinolysis Study Group as well as a past president of the Mediterranean League against Thrombosis.

His work included many contributions to the clinical use of laboratory in hemostasis and thrombosis and on thromboprophylaxis. His prolific publications numbered over 700 since 1949, including several books on thrombosis, hemostasis, and coagulation.

Among his contributions was his study on venous thromboembolism prophylaxis in medical patients (MEDENOX study),[1] which was selected for presentation at the Presidential Symposium of the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis in 1999. He also received the Distinguished Career Award for his contributions to hemostasis from the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis Forum and awards from the International Society of Fibrinolysis and Thrombolysis and the Venous Thrombosis Forum for his work in the field.

He was a pillar of strength in the committee overseeing the American College of Chest Physicians Consensus Conference on Antithrombotic Therapy.

His students, friends, and colleagues found him to be a truly kind man, benevolent, modest, and great hearted. His passing leaves a host of saddened students, friends, and colleagues.

• Reference

• 1 Samama MM, Cohen AT, Darmon JY , et al; Prophylaxis in Medical Patients with Enoxaparin Study Group. A comparison of enoxaparin with placebo for the prevention of venous thromboembolism in acutely ill medical patients. N Engl J Med 1999; 341 (11) 793-800