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HPS Network honors Dr. Samuel Seward with the Doctor of the Year Award

Oyster Bay, NY – The Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome Network (HPS Network) awarded Dr. Samuel Seward its Doctor of the Year Award at its 17th annual HPS Family Conference in Uniondale, NY.

Dr. Seward is the only physician to have a private practice caring for patients with Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome or HPS. HPS is a rare form of albinism that, in addition to vision impairment, causes a bleeding disorder. Some gene mutations also cause digestive problems much like Crohn’s Disease and pulmonary fibrosis. It is one of the most common genetic disorders among people of Puerto Rican heritage.

Dr Seward has dedicated countless hours to help patients with HPS, often giving up weekends and family time. He has served many years both on the HPS Network’s Board of Directors and Scientific Advisory Board.

“What I like best about Dr. Seward is that he listens to what I have to say. He gives me the time I need.” said Ana Guzman, one of Dr. Seward’s HPS patients.

“Although I live in Kansas, I see Dr. Seward whenever I’m in New York – at least twice a year. While I like my doctors at home, because Dr. Seward sees other patients with HPS, I appreciate the perspective he brings to the table. He’s able to make suggestions based on his experience with HPS.” said Heather Kirkwood, another of Dr. Seward’s patients.

Dr. Samuel Seward is the Assistant Vice President and Medical Director of Health Services at Columbia University, positions he has held since 2004. Prior to joining Columbia, he was the Internal Medicine-Pediatrics Residency Program Director at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York. Dr. Seward is originally from Massachusetts. He received his undergraduate degree in Political Science from McGill University in Montreal. He received his M.D. from the University of Texas.

His professional experience has included training medical residents and students, co-directing a medical practice for organ transplant recipients, and providing primary care pediatrics to children in an underserved community in Rockland County, NY.

Dr. Seward’s professional interests include preventive medical care, early disease detection, and “transitional medicine”, which is the care of adult patients who are survivors of congenital and pediatric diseases.


The Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome Network was founded in 1992 and incorporated in 1995. The organization maintains a patient registry of nearly a thousand patients affected by the syndrome. It offers support and information to affected families as well as advocates for medical research to one day find a cure.

www.hpsnetwork.org

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