About
For more than a quarter century, The Sams Clinic has led the advancement of modern veterinary orthopedics, sports medicine, and minimally invasive care for family pets, canine athletes, and working dogs.
History
Dr. Andrew Sams founded The Sams Clinic for Orthopaedics and Arthroscopy in 1999 after serving as Chief of Orthopedics and Neurosurgery at the Animal Medical Center in New York, where he established one of the profession’s first canine arthroscopy programs.
In 2004, Dr. Sams transformed the practice into The Sams Clinic as it is known today: an 8,500-square-foot integrated orthopedic center dedicated entirely to musculoskeletal care across orthopedic surgery, minimally invasive diagnosis and treatment, sports medicine, orthobiologic therapy, and coordinated recovery.
Today, The Sams Clinic brings together nationally recognized specialists and skilled clinical teams across the full spectrum of orthopedic need, from everyday mobility concerns to complex surgical and return-to-performance challenges.
"I’ve always found orthopedics rewarding: the technology, the physics, the science behind it. But in the end, the best reward is seeing patients get back to doing what they love, with the people who love them."
Andrew Sams, DVM, MS, DACVS
Founder
Our Specialists
Andrew Sams, DVM, MS, DACVS
Founder & Medical Director
Orthopedic Surgery & Arthroscopy
Sherman Canapp, DVM, MS, CCRT, DACVS, DACVSMR
Orthopedic Surgery & Arthroscopy
Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation
Dana Whitlock, DVM, MS, CCRP, CVA, DACVSMR
Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation
The Sams Clinic Approach
Dr. Andrew Sams founded The Sams Clinic on a simple belief: advanced medicine and kindness belong together. This belief shapes how we care for pets and the families who love them.
Advanced Diagnostics & Procedures
As a full-spectrum orthopedic and sports medicine center, The Sams Clinic brings advanced diagnosis, treatment, and recovery planning together in one coordinated experience.
Personalized Support & Coordination
Complex orthopedic care is easier to navigate with a team that stays close to the case, coordinates the details, and supports you through consultation, treatment, and recovery.
Long-Term Partners in Care
Questions don’t always end when treatment does. Whether weeks, months, or years later, you’ll have a team that knows your pet, your goals, and your pet’s orthopedic history.
Research, Innovation & Leadership
For decades, our specialists have advanced the standards, techniques, and technologies shaping modern veterinary orthopedics, arthroscopy, orthobiologics, and sports medicine.
- Clinical research programs spanning musculoskeletal disease, soft tissue injury, orthobiologic therapy, functional recovery, and objective outcomes assessment.
- Scholarly contributions including peer-reviewed publications, textbook chapters, and scientific presentations.
- Technology development & validation across orthobiologic systems, minimally invasive systems, musculoskeletal ultrasound applications, surgical instrumentation, specialty-care platforms, and related areas.
- Clinical method development spanning arthroscopy, minimally invasive diagnosis and treatment, sports medicine, and functional recovery.
- Veterinary education including national and international lecturing, training academies, advanced procedural laboratories, and residency, internship, and fellowship training.
- Field-building leadership including development of professional organizations, national specialty programs, specialty practices, and clinical service lines.
Careers for Specialists & Technicians
Apply Now!
If you are committed to medical excellence, continuous growth, and helping your teammates succeed, we’d love to hear from you.
What You'll Gain
Opportunities to practice and work at the top of your capability. Work alongside specialists who have led the advancement of modern veterinary orthopedics and sports medicine, with a team invested in your advancement.
What You'll Bring
Your expertise and aspirations. We look for people who take pride in high standards, care about their teammates, and understand that excellent patient care depends on skill, judgment, kindness, and accountability.
A Note From Dr. Sams
All of us who choose veterinary medicine as a profession share something very special: we’ve dedicated our lives to the care and well-being of animals.
The work we do takes passion, skill, patience, and compassion.
Our team is small, specialized, and committed to the highest standards of our profession. The work we do requires true teamwork, mutual support, and a daily commitment to help each other succeed.
If you share our values and are seeking the next step in your career, we’d love to hear from you.
Sincerely,
Dr. Sams
Patient Stories
Lexie
Agility
“The surgeries were successful and Lexie came back to the agility ring as fast as ever. She was the fastest dog in the country (of any breed) competing in 20” preferred in AKC Agility in 2016.”
Cole
Agility
“I can’t thank VOSM enough for all they did for Cole and giving him a chance to do the things he loves again.”
Shazam
Agility
“The expertise, attention to detail and concern for their clients both 2 and 4-legged is exceptional. If in the future any of my dogs would require orthopedic care VOSM would be my first choice to investigate treatment.”
Chelsie
Agility
“I will always be grateful to Dr. Sherman Canapp for fixing Chelsie and allowing her to return to competition and the sport that she loves. At the time of her first surgery we had several surgical opinions and Dr. Canapp was the only surgeon who felt that Chelsie would be able to continue being active and return to competition.”