Samantha Polak

Samantha Polak, MD PhD, has a diverse and extensive work experience. Samantha is currently the Director of Advanced Clinical Research at Abiomed, where they oversee clinical operations and scientific research teams. Samantha is responsible for the scientific development, oversight, and analysis of a portfolio of clinical studies. Prior to this role, they worked as an Associate Director of Clinical Development and Study Design, where they provided guidance on clinical trial design and strategy for a variety of devices and indications. Samantha also served as a Principal Scientist, leading the execution of randomized clinical trials and collaborating with national principal investigators and site investigators. Earlier in their career, they worked as a Senior Scientist II, managing research portfolios with academic institutions and collaborating with leading cardiologists and researchers. Before their industry roles, they gained experience as a Housestaff in Internal Medicine at Mount Sinai Health System and as a Graduate Teaching Assistant at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where they taught medical students and advised mechanical engineering design projects.

Samantha Polak, MD PhD, obtained a Bachelor's Degree in Biochemical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2007. Samantha also completed a Bachelor's Degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Cambridge in 2006. In 2010, they pursued a Master's Degree in Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, which they completed in 2012. Samantha furthered their education at the same institution, where they obtained a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering in 2012. Finally, Samantha Polak completed their Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 2015.