Rachana, Shiv and Siya,
Thank you for sharing your husband and father with us. I am a better person and my life is more complete for having had him in my life. As difficult as yesterday was, I feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity to share these words about him.
"When I think about Sameer, or Sam as he was most known to me, the word that comes to mind first is genuine.
He had a warmth and an ease that made people feel comfortable almost immediately. In places that could feel intense—clinics, sidelines, meetings—Sam brought calm. He was sincere, humble, kind, and thoughtful, and he had a clever wit that put people at ease and often brought a smile.
I first met Sam when he was a second-year sports medicine fellow and I was an intern in family medicine at UCLA. Even then, it was clear he was a natural teacher. Over all the years, he had a way of making me feel more confident in myself. That "realness" wasn’t something he turned on—it was simply who he was.
Sam’s professional accomplishments were remarkable. Soon after fellowship, he became one of the youngest head team physicians at a major collegiate program at UC Berkeley. He went on to help build the primary care sports medicine program at Johns Hopkins, and later—taking a chance with his family in tow—moved to New York City during the pandemic, where he most recently served as fellowship director and team physician for the New York Giants. His athletes and patients loved him. He was a careful listener, and he carried that rare balance of humility and confidence that defines a truly great physician.
Leadership, at its core, is about service, and Sam gave so much of himself to our national organization, the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine. He was serving his second term on the Board of Directors as Chair of the Publications Committee. Before that, he served for many years as the AMSSM representative to the American College of Physicians and helped lead the Fellows Research and Leadership Conference—again reflecting his deep commitment to teaching and mentorship.
Sam was sought after for leadership because people trusted him. He was driven, but never at the expense of integrity. His intelligence and experience opened doors, but it was his character that defined his success.
For many of us, his greatest legacy is personal. He was a mentor to me from the very beginning—though in his humility, he would never have accepted that title. He simply showed up as a friend who guided you. I like to think of him as a frientor—someone who supported, challenged, and walked alongside me, and so many others.
His current and former fellows shared that in moments of uncertainty, they will always ask themselves, 'What would Dr. Dixit do?' I can’t think of a greater compliment.
Sam also had a rare gift for humor. As my friend Carly said, he could insert levity into any situation without ever stealing the moment from others. His quick-witted, subtle comments are something I will always cherish.
When I think of Sam now, I picture his smirky smile—how it lifted just slightly more to the right—and I can still hear his voice and his laugh. I hope I never lose those memories.
So many of my conversations with Sam eventually turned to stories about his family. He loved you all so dearly, and I will always see him in you.
Everything he did was grounded in love and service. Sam lived with humility, purpose, and kindness. He impacted so many lives, and we are all grateful we had the chance to know him."
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