Syrian American Medical Society
A Syrian-American professional medical organization that combines member services with humanitarian healthcare, medical training, and advocacy for Syrians affected by conflict and displacement.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
The Syrian American Medical Society, commonly known as SAMS, is a nonprofit, nonpolitical professional organization representing Syrian-American medical professionals in the United States. It was established in 1998 to provide networking, educational, cultural, and professional services for physicians and other healthcare workers of Syrian heritage. The organization also created ways for members to maintain professional and humanitarian connections with Syria through conferences, medical missions, charitable projects, and technical collaboration. SAMS gradually developed from a professional association into a major humanitarian medical organization. It held its first annual conference in 1999 and began medical missions to Syria in 2002. In 2010, it launched a telemedicine program and founded the Avicenna Journal of Medicine, extending its role beyond in-person professional activity. Telemedicine enabled medical personnel working in Syria to consult with healthcare professionals in the United States, particularly when local access to specialist care and continuing education was limited. The Syrian conflict, which began in 2011, fundamentally expanded SAMS's work. The organization began sending medical missions to Turkey to assist Syrian refugees, while supporting healthcare delivery inside Syria and in neighboring host countries. Its activities have included sponsoring field hospitals, clinics, surgical centers, ambulances, dialysis services, intensive-care units, mobile clinics, dental facilities, obstetric and gynecological services, and primary-care programs. SAMS has also paid salaries and provided training for Syrian doctors, nurses, and other health workers, helping preserve medical capacity in areas affected by displacement, violence, infrastructure damage, and shortages of medicines and equipment. The organization has shipped medical containers and humanitarian supplies into Syria, including antibiotics, anesthesia, pain medicines, blood bags, surgical equipment, gloves, laboratory kits, and diagnostic equipment. It has worked with international humanitarian organizations, including United Nations agencies, on cross-border delivery and support for internally displaced people. SAMS has also helped sustain ambulance services through fuel, driver support, and operating supplies. Its programs have included medical and psychosocial assistance for refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey, as well as social-work and psychological support for displaced Syrians. In Jordan, SAMS operated a major medical facility in the Al-Zaatari refugee camp and organized medical missions, home visits, and psychosocial services. In Lebanon, it supported clinics in Tripoli and the Bekaa Valley, including dental, primary-care, surgical, diagnostic, obstetric, pediatric, rehabilitation, and mental-health services. In Turkey, it operated or supported dental clinics near refugee camps and trained Syrian medical personnel in trauma care, critical care, gender-based-violence recognition, specialty care, primary care, and nursing. SAMS has also participated in large-scale public-health efforts, including polio vaccination activities for Syrian children. It has advocated for civilian protection and medical neutrality during the conflict, joining international campaigns and giving testimony concerning attacks involving chemical agents. Hospitals and medical facilities supported by the organization have reportedly been affected by airstrikes, while SAMS-supported medical workers have treated casualties from chemical-weapons incidents. By the mid-2010s, the organization had developed a network of U.S. chapters and a broad humanitarian operating structure across Syria and neighboring countries. Its identity therefore combines a diaspora professional society, a medical relief provider, a training network, and an advocate for the protection of healthcare in conflict zones.
History
SAMS was founded in 1998 as a professional society for American physicians of Syrian descent. Its original purpose was to connect members through professional networking, education, cultural activity, and medical exchange. The society held its first annual conference in 1999, creating a recurring forum for members and strengthening its institutional connection to the Syrian medical community. In 2002, it began medical missions to Syria, adding a practical service dimension to its professional and diaspora-oriented work. The organization expanded its knowledge-sharing role in 2010 by launching a telemedicine program and establishing the Avicenna Journal of Medicine. Telemedicine allowed clinicians in Syria to seek advice from medical professionals in the United States, while the journal provided an academic and professional outlet associated with the society's broader medical mission. The beginning of the Syrian conflict in 2011 was the major turning point in SAMS's history. Healthcare facilities and personnel faced severe pressure, while millions of people were displaced internally or across international borders. SAMS began sending medical missions to Turkey for Syrian refugees and expanded its support for healthcare providers and facilities inside Syria. It helped sponsor field hospitals, clinics, ambulances, and surgical centers; supplied medicines and equipment; and contributed to the salaries and training of Syrian doctors, nurses, and other health workers. SAMS's regional model developed across Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey. In Jordan, it operated a major medical facility in the Al-Zaatari refugee camp and organized medical missions and psychosocial assistance. In Lebanon, it supported facilities in Tripoli and the Bekaa Valley, offering combinations of primary care, surgery, dentistry, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, dialysis, diagnostics, rehabilitation, and mental-health services. In Turkey, it operated or supported dental clinics near refugee camps and trained Syrian personnel in trauma, critical care, specialty care, primary care, gender-based-violence recognition, and nursing. The organization also became involved in cross-border humanitarian logistics. It shipped medical containers into Syria and Lebanon and distributed items such as antibiotics, anesthetics, pain medicines, blood bags, surgical sets, gloves, diagnostic equipment, and laboratory supplies. Ambulance programs received support for fuel, drivers, and operational materials. SAMS worked with United Nations and other international partners on the movement of aid to internally displaced people and medical facilities. Its public-health role included participation in efforts to vaccinate Syrian children against polio. Because many facilities supported by SAMS operated in active conflict zones, the organization became an advocate for the protection of civilians and medical neutrality. SAMS-supported hospitals were reported to have been targeted by airstrikes, and its medical network treated victims of reported chemical-weapons attacks. The society joined international advocacy efforts, including the #WithSyria campaign, and representatives testified before international and U.S. policymakers about attacks on healthcare and alleged chlorine use. By November 2015, SAMS had developed 19 chapters across the United States, alongside its humanitarian operations in Syria and neighboring countries. Its historical trajectory is therefore one of transformation: from a professional society serving a Syrian-American medical community into a transnational medical-relief and advocacy organization responding to a prolonged humanitarian emergency.
- 2015
Advocacy on attacks against healthcare
[1]SAMS testified about chlorine attacks and participated in a New York action supporting Syrian healthcare workers.
- 2014
Cross-border operations and expanded reported reach
[1]SAMS began coordinated cross-border operations and reported supporting more than 1.4 million Syrians in need.
- 2012
Medical personnel training in Turkey
[1]SAMS began training Syrian healthcare personnel in Turkey.
- 2011
Humanitarian expansion after the conflict begins
[1]SAMS expanded healthcare support in Syria and sent its first medical mission to Turkey for Syrian refugees.
- 2010
Telemedicine and medical journal initiatives
[1]SAMS launched a telemedicine program and founded the Avicenna Journal of Medicine.
- 2002
Medical missions to Syria begin
[1]SAMS began sending medical missions to Syria.
- 1999
First annual conference
[1]The society hosted its first annual conference for professional and community engagement.
- 1998
Organization founded
[1]SAMS was established as a professional society for American physicians of Syrian descent.
Products and positioning
A diaspora-led medical humanitarian organization positioned at the intersection of professional networking, emergency healthcare delivery, health-worker support, refugee services, and advocacy for medical neutrality.
Emergency and humanitarian healthcare · 2011
Humanitarian medical programs
SAMS supports healthcare delivery for Syrians affected by conflict and displacement. Its program model includes field hospitals, clinics, surgical centers, ambulances, intensive-care units, dialysis services, mobile clinics, obstetric and gynecological care, dental services, medicines, medical equipment, and operating support for local health workers.
Refugee and community health · 2011
Refugee healthcare services
The organization provides or supports medical and social services for Syrian refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey. Services described for its regional programs include primary care, pediatrics, surgery, dentistry, dialysis, diagnostics, obstetrics and gynecology, rehabilitation, mental-health care, social-work visits, and psychological support.
Professional education and clinical support · 2010
Medical training and telemedicine
SAMS connects Syrian medical personnel with professional expertise from Syrian-American clinicians and other partners. Its activities include telemedicine consultations and training in trauma care, critical care, primary and specialty care, gender-based-violence recognition, and nursing.
Humanitarian logistics · 2011
Medical supply and logistics support
SAMS ships and distributes medicines, surgical supplies, diagnostic equipment, laboratory materials, and other humanitarian goods. Reported supplies include antibiotics, anesthesia, pain medication, blood bags, surgical sets, gloves, X-ray equipment, and basic laboratory kits.
Medical publishing · 2010
Avicenna Journal of Medicine
The Avicenna Journal of Medicine was founded by SAMS as part of its professional and academic activities. It extended the society's role from networking and missions into medical publishing and knowledge exchange.
Marketing campaigns
- 2015Healthcare-worker solidarity die-in
United States
SAMS and Physicians for Human Rights organized a die-in in New York to express solidarity with Syrian healthcare workers and draw attention to attacks on medical services.
- #WithSyria
International
SAMS joined a coalition of 130 nongovernmental organizations calling for greater humanitarian assistance to Syria and stronger protection for civilians.
- Polio vaccination support
Syria
SAMS participated in efforts to vaccinate Syrian children against polio, with the referenced material attributing more than 1.4 million vaccinations to the broader effort.
Brand decisions
2014
Formalization of cross-border humanitarian operationsStrategyBackground
The conflict increased demand for medical supplies and services in areas difficult to reach through conventional channels.
Action taken
SAMS began cross-border operations with international partners, including United Nations agencies, to deliver supplies and support to internally displaced people and medical facilities.
Aftermath
The organization expanded its logistics and regional humanitarian capacity.
2011
Strategic expansion into conflict-response healthcareStrategyBackground
The outbreak of the Syrian conflict created extensive medical needs inside Syria and among refugees in neighboring countries.
Action taken
SAMS expanded beyond professional association activities to support field hospitals, clinics, ambulances, medical workers, refugee programs, and humanitarian supply operations.
Aftermath
The organization developed a transnational humanitarian operating model across Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey.
2010
Launch of telemedicine and the Avicenna Journal of MedicineProduct launchBackground
SAMS sought to strengthen professional exchange and clinical support between Syrian-American medical professionals and healthcare workers connected to Syria.
Action taken
The society introduced a telemedicine program and founded the Avicenna Journal of Medicine.
Aftermath
These initiatives broadened SAMS's role in remote consultation, education, and medical knowledge sharing.
Sources1 sources
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