Sam Rhine has crossed the country for 30+ years presenting the latest genetic information to high school students and their teachers. He has also spoken to audiences in Toronto, Montreal, Tokyo, Vienna, Prague, St. Petersburg, Russia, and Nairobi, Kenya.

Sam has devoted himself to genetics education. He is a gifted speaker with a passion to teach the “world” the applicability of genetics to daily living. He began while he was a graduate student by speaking to high school biology classes, first in Indianapolis and then in Boston. Soon he was presenting whole-school convocations to hundreds of students on two main topics: prevention of birth defects, "The Most Important Nine Month of Your Life," and prevention of AIDS, "Say 'Know' to AIDS."

For the past several years, Sam has concentrated on presenting Genetic Update Conferences (GUC's). These one-day conferences for biology teachers and students are designed to teach the latest in genetic advances, hot research areas, and career opportunities. Sam takes biology from the textbook to the heart by posing ethical dilemmas each will face as technological advances continue.

In 1997, the National Association of Biology Teachers presented Sam with the NABT Honorary Membership Award. This award is given to one teacher in the U.S. annually and is the highest honor that the association can bestow upon members of the profession. Sam's award states as follows: “You have inspired so many teachers and students with your enthusiasm for knowledge and life - everyone walks away from your workshops with a new sense of value and excitement for science…. Thank you for contributing so much to many students and teachers who have come in contact with you and your work.”

Sam and his wife of 40 years live in suburban Indianapolis. They have two children and eight grandchildren who live close by and keep life “lively.”

Honors and Awards

One expert in human genetics education described Sam as: “one of the most effective human genetics educators in America today”.

In February 2007, he received the 'Distinguished Hoosier Scholar Award' from the Hoosier Association of Science Teachers Inc. (HASTI) - an award that goes to a native Hoosier for outstanding commitment to science education. This award has been presented only three times in the forty year history of HASTI.

In November of 1997 was been presented the ‘Honorary Member Award’ given by the National Association of Biology Teachers to one teacher annually - recognized as the: “highest honor we bestow on members of our profession”.

Special Speaking Engagements — 2007 to 2008

Featured Speaker:

2008 Shenandoah Valley Biotechnology Symposium
Eastern Mennonite School - Harrisonburg, VA
'Cloning & Stem Cells'
'Genes and Cancer'
"Genes in the Junk - Non-Coding DNA Genes and microRNAs'

Waubonsee Community College - Sugar Grove, IL - March 10, 2008
Community Forum - 'Cloning and Stem Cells'

Tarrant County Community College - Fort Worth, TX
February 4, 2008 - 'Cloning and Stem Cells'

Dayton Area Ophthalmologic Doctors - NCR Country Club, Dayton, OH
December 14, 2007 - 'Genetics of Eye Problems and Future Therapies'

2-Year College Annual Dinner - NABT
Atlanta, GA - December 1, 2007 - 'Biology of Stem Cells and iPS'

NABT - National Association of Biology Teachers annual conference,
Atlanta, GA - November 28, 2007 - 'Genetic Potpouri'

M.A.C.U.B. Metropolitan (New York City) Association
of College and University Biologists, St. John's University,
Queens, NY - October 20, 2007 - 'Cloning and Stem Cells'

Featured Speaker:
Purdue University - Human Genetics Class - September 11 & 13, 2007
'Biology of Cloning and Stem Cells'

Purdue University - Junior Nursing Students - September 4, 2007
'Acquired and Genetic Birth Defects - Who Needs Genetic Counseling?'

Dayton Area Ophthalmologic Nurses Association - Miami Valley Hospital
March 31, 2007 - 'Genetics of Eye Problems and Future Therapies'

Ball State University - Biology Club Community Forum - March 30, 2007
'Cloning and Stem Cells'

Onadaga Community College - Community Forum - Syracuse, NY
October 4, 2007 - 'Cloning and Stem Cells'

Purdue University - Human Genetics Class - September 14 & 19, 2007
'Biology of Cloning and Stem Cells'

Indiana University - HIV and AIDS Conference - July 13, 2007
'The Genetics of HIV Resistance'
Featured Speaker:
Purdue University - Evansville Area High School Medical Conference
June 8, 2007 - 'Cloning and Stem Cells'

Alpena Michigan Parkinson's Support Group - Alpena Community College
Alpena, MI - April 19, 2007 - 'Cloning and Stem Cells…..Potential
Future Therapy for Parkinson Disease'

Keynote Speaker:

Wisconsin State Science Teachers Conference
Green Bay, WI - March 25, 2007 - 'Cloning and Stem Cells'

HASTI (Hoosier Association of Science Teachers Inc)
State Conference - Indianapolis, IN March 9, 2007
'What's New in Human Genetics and Stem Cell Therapy'

Honors and Awards:

2007 -Distinguished Hoosier Scholar by Hoosier Association of Science Teachers, Inc. (see above)
2000 -National Science Teachers Assoc. (NSTA) Regional Conference speaker
1999 -NABT National Convention speaker
1997 -NABT Honorary Membership Award
1995 -PRIDE International Drug Abuse Conference featured speaker
1993 -Adjunct Faculty - Guest Lecturer - Human Genetics St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia
1993 -NABT National Convention keynote speaker
1993 -Award for Outstanding Service to the Youth of Indiana, Indiana Academy of Pediatrics

Education:

Harvard Medical School 1976-1978 —Lalor Foundation Fellow, Medical Genetics
Indiana University School of Medicine 1972-1976 —Doctoral Candidate, Medical Genetics
Indiana University 1972 —M.A. Genetics
Indiana University 1968 —B.A. Genetics