Dr. Samuel Hickson

My name is Dr. Samuel Hickson, and my academic and professional journey has been shaped by an enduring curiosity about people, culture, and the systems that surround them. As a freshman, I began my studies in international business, drawn to the dynamics of global markets and corporate responsibility. While I excelled in understanding the complexities of commerce, I found myself increasingly captivated not by the transactions of business, but by the lived experiences of the people behind them. This realization led me to sociology, where I discovered a deeper connection to socio-cultural anthropology and the study of how identity, culture, and history shape the human condition.

This academic shift became the foundation of a career devoted to service, advocacy, and healing. After completing my undergraduate studies, I entered social work school, earning a master’s degree with a focus on community and social development. In this work, I explored how storytelling, education, and inclusive practices could strengthen communities and restore dignity. Over the past 14 years, I have served as a social worker and therapist across diverse healthcare settings, standing alongside individuals and families in moments of vulnerability and transition. These experiences deepened my belief that social work is not only a profession but also a calling to honor human resilience.

While my focus turned to people, I never lost the perspective I had gained in business. I later returned to earn my MBA, graduating with distinction and specializing in corporate social responsibility. This training gave me a unique ability to bridge individual care with systemic understanding—allowing me to see how large institutions, policies, and organizations intersect with personal stories and outcomes.

My academic journey culminated with a doctorate in Advanced Studies in Human Behavior. My research centered on fear, stigma, and medical mistrust among LGBTQIA+ communities, a subject that reflects both my scholarly interests and my personal story as a gay man navigating trust in healthcare. This work sought to illuminate the barriers faced by sexual and gender minorities and to offer solutions rooted in empathy, research, and advocacy.

Professionally, I balance roles as a psychotherapist, neuropsychotherapist, and clinical trials rater. With more than seven years of research experience—including six years under the guidance of world-renowned Alzheimer’s disease expert Dr. Jeffrey Cummings—I have contributed to clinical studies at the forefront of healthcare innovation. My work is increasingly focused on exploring how artificial intelligence and machine learning can transform mental health diagnostics and treatment.

alumnus, I was mentored to see myself not just as a student but as a scholar, a shift that reshaped my path from athlete to academic. My writings on resilience and human behavior reflect both rigorous study and lived experience, and I have been recognized as a Top Doctor for my commitment to advancing mental health and human connection.

At the heart of all my work—whether in therapy, research, teaching, or writing—lies a single devotion: to help people feel seen, understood, and empowered. I believe healing is both a science and an art, and my life’s work is to create spaces where dignity, resilience, and transformation can flourish.