Sam Arnold, M.D.
It all comes down to family.
If you happen to run into Sam outside of the clinic, you might not recognize him. Instead of a white coat, he’ll probably be wearing a coach’s uniform. You see, whether it’s coaching his kids’ little league games, traveling with his wife, or taking extra care of his patients, Sam spends most of his time nurturing relationships.
In fact, Sam’s desire to create and keep relationships inspired him to pursue OB/GYN: “It’s the one specialty that ensures a long-term bond with patients. I don’t see people once and that’s it; I serve patients throughout their lives, helping them with all sorts of transitions. Whether it’s preventative care, diagnostic dilemmas, surgery, or delivering babies I’m an active participant in their health decisions.”
Sam’s emphasis on relationships is not surprising, considering he founded Comprehensive Health Care for Women (CHCW) with his father, Dr. Neil Arnold, and classmate from residency Dr. Jacqueline Mahan. “Our personal relationships helped create a family-like atmosphere for our patients. We wanted to create a clinic that put patients first. We wanted to develop life-long bonds with people. From these shared goals, we created CHCW.”
Certainly, these goals were achieved. After Sam’s father Neil retired in June 2009, Sam has gained insight about the types of relationships that form at CHCW: “Since my dad retired, I’ve seen many of his patients who begin crying when I walk in the room. They’re so sad he’s no longer there to see them. However, it’s inspiring to me. These are the kind of patient relationships we develop.”
Personal:
When he’s not in the clinic, Sam enjoys spending time with his wife, Tracy, and two children in Eagan. Together, they enjoy downhill skiing, reading Harry Potter books, watching movies, and hiking. Sam and his family are quite adventurous, their biggest adventure (so far) came in 2004 when they moved to New Zealand for a year.
If he wasn’t a doctor, Sam would be a radio announcer for the Minnesota Twins: “Herb Carneal was one of my idols, I loved his baseball stories. I’m such a huge Twins fan, if I wasn’t a doctor, I’d want that job!” But, he loves his career and is always excited to see his next patient: “I know with every person, I help make a difference.”
Dr. Arnold’s Profile
Medical School:
University of Minnesota, School of Medicine
Residency:
Obstetrics and Gynecology University of Minnesota Hospital and Clinics
Board Certified:
American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 1999
Read a wonderful story recently published in the Woodbury Patch.
