Dr. Paul Samuelson

Paul Nathan Samuelson, MD, died peacefully Saturday October 14, 2023. Dr. Samuelson was born January 1, 1943 in Rochester, NY, the son of Wallace H.E. and Lois Confeld Samuelson. The family later moved to Pennsylvania where Paul spent his childhood.

He received his undergraduate degree from Antioch College and was an honors graduate of the University of Rochester School of Medicine where he met Dr. Carole Wilkerson Samuelson. They were married and welcomed two sons before relocating to Birmingham in 1975. He was board certified in internal medicine and anesthesiology. However, he confined his practice to cardiac anesthesiology; a field he helped establish by attending the formational meeting of the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists in 1979. The majority of his professional career was spent at UAB where he and his friends and colleagues, Bill Lell, MD and Jerry Reves, MD and others formed and sustained one of the best divisions of cardiac anesthesia in the country. They cared for thousands of patients, trained many fellows in the field and were active in research. In the 1970’s when UAB developed surgery for coronary artery bypass, Dr. Samuelson was a major contributor to the methods to anesthetize patients undergoing this new operation. He authored scientific papers on several new medications used during cardiac surgery and was considered a national authority on the use of these new anesthetics. He had an uncanny way of employing appropriate humor to break the tension and develop teamwork in the stressful cardiac surgical operating rooms. Anesthesia residents and fellows benefited from his keen intellect and technical skills that enabled them to develop into first-rate physicians themselves. Because of his insight and ability to compassionately assess merit, he was an oral examiner for many years in the American Board of Anesthesiology examination system. He was perhaps most gratified to be considered a close friend and confidante by his colleagues, and during retirement he maintained those close and mutually valuable relationships. As an Eagle Scout (Troop 171, Boiling Springs, PA) and adult leader (Troop 86, Birmingham, AL) Paul was very active in the Boy Scouts of America for many years. He also enjoyed numerous activities with friends and family including enjoying food and wine, sailing, hunting, fishing, and traveling.

Paul is preceded in death by Carole, his wife of 39 years and his nephew Charles V. Wilkerson, III. He is survived by his sons, David (Elizabeth), Marc (Jamie) and grandchildren, Aidan, Aliyah, Parker and Emma. He is also survived by his sister Basja Samuelson, brother-in-law Charles V. Wilkerson, Jr. (Barbara), their daughter Emily Coffman (Bill), his beloved companion Mallory Gray and countless friends, students and co-workers who knew and loved him for many years.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be sent to the Samuelson Fund for Promotion of Public Health in care of The Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham, 2100 First Avenue North, Suite 700, Birmingham, AL 35203.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.ridoutsvalleychapel.com for the Samuelson family.