Samantha MacKay-Forton

National 1st Vice Chair

Samantha MacKay-Forton is a third year medical student at Michigan State University-College of Osteopathic Medicine, where she served as the President of Student Government. As the National First Vice-Chair of COSGP, she is looking forward to her involvement with the COSGP Executive Board and hopes to create a sense of community and connectedness at this year's meetings, both virtually and in-person.

Before entering medical school, Sam earned her Master's Degree in Health Science and served as a Professor of Anatomy and Physiology at Grand Valley State University. She discovered her love for teaching and service while teaching middle and high school science in La Union, Honduras. She has received awards for her research in endocrine disruption and environmental toxicology which was presented at multiple local and national conferences. Her current research endeavors are in the field of surgical oncology.

She currently lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan with her supportive husband, dog, cat, and soon will be joined by their first child in Fall of 2021. She hopes to pursue a career in general surgery with involvements in teaching, research, and global health.