Professor Samantha Lawson is an Arkansas native, growing up in Little Rock. Her path to science and medicine was not a conventional one. She attended Southern Methodist University for undergraduate studies, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Art History and Bachelor of Arts in Italian Area Studies. After graduating, she spent some time working and living in Italy. Upon arriving back to the United States, she returned to school part time to prepare for Physician Assistant school while also working full time in a pediatric clinic. There, she developed a passion for patient care in the clinical setting. She was a member of the Inaugural Class of the UAMS Physician Assistant Program, which graduated in 2015. After graduating, she worked in orthopedic joint replacement surgery for two years, and then went on to work in a family practice clinic for the next four years.
Samantha joined the UAMS Physician Assistant Program faculty in April 2022. She is excited to be returning to UAMS to help educate future PA providers and shape the PA profession. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, traveling, and spending time with her husband while they try to keep up with their two adorable and very active daughters.