Medical Ethics & Legal Medicine

S. Sandy Sanbar was born in Haifa, Israel. He earned a BS (with Distinction) in Biology and a M.D. (with Distinction) at the American University of Beirut in Lebanon. He did a Residency in Internal Medicine at the Oklahoma University Health Sciences Center, and earned a PhD in Biochemistry at the University of Oklahoma, while working as a Cardiovascular Research Trainee, Oklahoma Medical Research Institute in Oklahoma City. He completed his Residency in Internal Medicine at the University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan, before becoming a Postdoctoral Cardiovascular Fellow then Research Cardiovascular Associate of the Ontario Heart Foundation and Clinical Assistant in the Department of Internal Medicine, at the University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Dr. Sandbar returned with his family to Ann Arbor, Michigan, as a United States immigrant, served as a Cardiovascular Fellow of the Michigan Heart Association and an Instructor in Internal Medicine, then Advanced Cardiovascular Research Fellow of the American Heart Association and Assistant Professor, Hypertension Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan. His J.D. degree is from Oklahoma City University.

He was inducted in the U.S. Army Medical Corps as a Captain and was promoted to Major, while at Fitzsimmons General Hospital, Denver, Colorado. Finally, Sanbar was promoted to LT. Colonel while serving in the U.S. Army Medical Corps, U.S. Army Hospital, Danang, Vietnam. He was awarded a Bronze Star Medal for his efforts in Vietnam prior to being Honorably Discharged on July 4, 1970.

Since 1970’s, he has practiced in Oklahoma City both as an Attorney at Law and Specialist in Internal Medicine and Cardiology. Sanbar is a Past President of the American College of Legal Medicine (1989-1990) and he has received numerous Awards, including Gold Medal Award (2000) and Distinguished Service Award (2007) of the American College of Legal Medicine. In 2007, he was elected as the Chairman of the American Board of Legal Medicine (ABLM), and President of the American Board of Medical Malpractice (ABMM). He is a Diplomate of both the ABLM and the ABMM. He performed Consultative Examinations (for 6 ½ years) then served as a Medical Consultant (2 ½ years) for the Department of Disability Services, Social Security Administration in Oklahoma City. Since March 2008, Sanbar has been in private practice in Oklahoma City.

Sanbar is a prolific author of over 200 articles, and author or editor of eleven Books. His books include Hyperlipidemia & Hyperlipoproteinemia; Medical and Hospital Law; Editor, LEGAL MEDICINE, seven Editions from 1987- 2007; Editor. MEDICAL MALPRACTICE SURVIVAL HANDBOOK, 2007; and Editor, ABLM BOARD REVIEW EXAM & STUDY GUIDE, 2007. He publishes a monthly article for the LAW AND MEDICINE section of the Oklahoma County Medical Society publication, the BULLETIN. He is a member of the Oklahoma Bar, the Oklahoma County Bar, the Oklahoma State Medical Association and the Oklahoma County Medical Society. He is a State, National and International Lecturer on Legal Medicine and Medical Malpractice, and he generally serves as Seminar Program Chairman. He is married to Dorothy J. Sanbar, an Oklahoman, and has two children and three grandchildren.