Sam earned his J.D. from the University of Maryland Carey School of Law, where he gained significant academic experience in the healthcare space. He served as an Editor of the school's Health Law Journal and earned a Health Law Certificate. He also gained meaningful practical experience through his work as a student attorney in the school's Medical Legal Partnership clinic and as a medical malpractice law clerk at three private practice firms. Sam also volunteered to mentor troubled youth through the Baltimore Outreach for Student Success (BOSS) program.
He also holds a B.A. from Oregon State University.
Before attending law school, Sam was an intelligence analyst in the United States Marine Corps and completed two deployments to Afghanistan.