Arthur Seymour Samuels MD

Arthur Seymour Samuels, M.D. died on Monday, February 27, 2012 at Touro Infirmary, New Orleans, after a brief illness. Dr. Samuels is survived by his wife, Kari Borg. He had four children: sons Shepard Samuels, Daniel Samuels (Nona Epstein) and daughters Marianne Samuels (deceased) and Erin Samuels. Also survived by his sister Elaine Samuels, step-daughters Monique Guild and Vanessa Guild, and two beautiful granddaughters, Leah and Vera Samuels.

Born in Brooklyn, NY on July 24, 1925 to Pauline and Meyer Samuels, Dr. Samuels attended Florida Military Academy, then obtained his B.A. in zoology and his M.A. in psychology from Cornell University. He served overseas during WW II as a Sergeant in the Army Medical Corps, attached to the Field Artillery. He relocated to New Orleans to attend medical school and obtained his medical doctorate and residency training in psychiatry at Tulane University School of Medicine. He maintained a private psychiatric practice in New Orleans for over fifty years, seeing patients part -time until just one month prior to his death. Dr. Samuels served as Associate Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at LSU School of Medicine, supervising numerous medical students and resident psychiatrists, and later served as Medical Director of the Addictions Unit at Eastlake Hospital.

Dr. Samuels was an early practitioner of group psychotherapy, Gestalt therapy, and Transactional Analysis. He co-led a series of pioneering inter-racial discussion groups for the New Orleans Human Rights Commission in Mayor Moon Landrieu’s administration. He was the author of numerous publications and a lifelong seeker and learner, incorporating principles of Buddhist thought and meditation into his therapeutic approach as Director of the Stress Treatment Center of New Orleans.

At the request of the family, services will be private. THARP-SONTHEIMER FUNERAL HOME of Metairie in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be expressed online at www.tharpsontheimer.com.