Samantha Tross (born 30 June 1968) is a British

consultant surgeon In the United Kingdom, Ireland, and parts of the Commonwealth, consultant is the title of a senior hospital-based physician or surgeon who has completed all of their specialist training and been placed on the specialist register in their chosen ...

. In 2005 Tross became the first black female

orthopaedic surgeon Orthopedic surgery or orthopedics ( alternatively spelt orthopaedics), is the branch of surgery concerned with conditions involving the musculoskeletal system. Orthopedic surgeons use both surgical and nonsurgical means to treat musculoskeletal ...

in Britain and has been regularly recognized as one of Britains most influential Black Britons in the annual ''

Powerlist The ''Powerlist'' is a list of the 100 most influential people of African or African Caribbean heritage in the United Kingdom. The list is updated annually and has been published in book format by Powerful Media since 2007. The ''Powerlist'' is ...

''.

Personal life

Samantha Tross was born in Georgetown in

Guyana Guyana ( or ), officially the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, is a country on the northern mainland of South America. Guyana is an indigenous word which means "Land of Many Waters". The capital city is Georgetown. Guyana is bordered by the ...

in 1968 to Sammy and Gwendolin Tross. She was the second of four childrenMorgan, Marjorie H.
Blog citing Caribbean Britain: The Cultural and Biographical Directory
Historical Geographies. and she is said to have borrowed her brother's toys. She attended primary school in Guyana. Her family moved to Britain when she was 11 years old, because her father who worked for the

Commonwealth Secretariat The Commonwealth Secretariat is the main intergovernmental agency and central institution of the Commonwealth of Nations. It is responsible for facilitating co-operation between members; organising meetings, including the Commonwealth Heads o ...

was given a post in Britain. The secretariat is based at

Marlborough House Marlborough House, a Grade I listed mansion in St James's, City of Westminster, London, is the headquarters of the Commonwealth of Nations and the seat of the Commonwealth Secretariat. It was built in 1711 for Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marl ...

in London.^{/sup> Tross completed her education at private schools in Britain and then at Matthew Boulton College

Matthew may refer to:

* Matthew (given name)
* Matthew (surname)
* ''Matthew'' (ship), the replica of the ship sailed by John Cabot in 1497
* ''Matthew'' (album), a 2000 album by rapper Kool Keith
* Matthew (elm cultivar), a cultivar of the Ch ...
in Birmingham

Birmingham ( ) is a city and metropolitan borough in the metropolitan county of West Midlands in England. It is the second-largest city in the United Kingdom with a population of 1.145 million in the city proper, 2.92 million in the West ...
. She excelled at sport, becoming the British national long jump

The long jump is a track and field event in which athletes combine speed, strength and agility in an attempt to leap as far as possible from a takeoff point. Along with the triple jump, the two events that measure jumping for distance as a gr ...
champion for her age, and she passed A-Levels in applied mathematics, chemistry and biology. She took medicine at University College London

, mottoeng = Let all come who by merit deserve the most reward
, established =
, type = Public research university
, endowment = £143 million (2020)
, budget = ...
, where she decided to become a surgeon.

Professional life

Tross is unsure of what caused her initial interest in medicine in medicine but thinks that the death of her grandparents when she was the young age of seven was a contribution to her interest. She also notes that while in medical school she was exposed to many different specialities in medicine, but the surgeons in orthopedics made her feel wanted and useful.

This was an unusual course for a British woman: only 11% of consultant surgeons in Britain are female. She trained at various hospitals and completed her training in orthopaedic surgery in 2004. She is a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons
The Royal College of Surgeons is an ancient college (a form of corporation) established in England to regulate the activity of surgeons. Derivative organisations survive in many present and former members of the Commonwealth. These organisations a ...
. She specialises in re-constructive hip and knee surgery. Although she is known for her work with hip and knee surgery, she also does work on the shoulder, elbow, hand and foot and ankle.

Notable achievements

Tross's brief biography is included (in 2015) in the International Slavery Museum

The International Slavery Museum is a museum located in Liverpool, England that focuses on the history and legacy of the transatlantic slave trade. The museum which forms part of the Merseyside Maritime Museum, consists of three main galleries ...
run by Liverpool Museums. She is said to be one of the 100 most influential Black Britons; and has regularly been included in the annual ''Powerlist

The ''Powerlist'' is a list of the 100 most influential people of African or African Caribbean heritage in the United Kingdom. The list is updated annually and has been published in book format by Powerful Media since 2007. The ''Powerlist'' is ...
'', of the 100 most influential Black British people, with her most recent appearance on the '' Powerlist 2021''. Tross was the subject of a biography by Verna Wilkins published by Tamarind Books in 2008.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tross, Samantha
1968 births
Living people
Alumni of University College London
Black British health professionals
British orthopaedic surgeons
Fellows of the Royal College of Surgeons of England
People from Georgetown, Guyana
Women surgeons}