Sam of All Trades
When Samuel Diaz III learned the term “Renaissance Man” as a kid, he decided to make it his mission to personify this type of multifaceted individual. Following college, the Stratford native found a way to pursue his passions for karate and music while launching a successful career in the healthcare industry.
Photo Cred: Luis Cuevas
Photo Cred: Bethany Gordon
Photo Cred: Luis Cuevas
Not one to merely “pursue” his interests, Sam became a member of the U.S. Martial Arts Team and went on to compete in several World Games across the globe, bringing home multiple gold medals each time. Intending to share his love of karate, he opened a dojo, Stratford Shotokan Karate-Do (www.stratfordshotokan.com). In addition to karate instruction, Sam’s dojo offers a wide range of programs that extend beyond recreation, addressing topics such as anti-bullying, self-defense, and rape prevention.
Armed with an undergraduate degree in Business Administration from Southern Connecticut State College and a graduate degree in Interactive Communications from Quinnipiac University, Sam’s interest in health care quickly segued into a rewarding career. Starting at the Department of Public Health, he helped investigate bodegas and the use of funding for WIC, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children which aims to protect the health of low-income women, infants, and children up to age five who are at nutritional risk. His next career move brought him to Southwest Community Health Center in Bridgeport, CT (www.swchc.org). His passion for community health allowed him to move up the ladder, first taking on the position of Director of Communications and ultimately becoming the Chief Strategy Officer for the organization.
In his current role, Sam identifies gaps in service in underserved areas. His goal is to seek out partnerships and new facilities to make health care accessible. “I want our services to be embedded within the community so that residents know they can get help easily and affordably. I’m so proud that we were the first facility in Connecticut to offer free Covid testing -- no insurance or identification required.” Another initiative on Sam’s wish list is to establish school-based health care centers so children can get medical help without parents missing work and losing income.
Sam’s hard work has not gone unnoticed. The General Assembly of Connecticut named him one of 100 Men of Color in 2021, and LUPA (Latinos United for Professional Advancement) included him on the list of 50 Most Influential Latinos in Connecticut in 2014 and 2016. Sam’s prophetic vision for telehealth was featured in “Faces of the Future of Healthcare,” a 2019 article in the National Association of Community Health Centers' publication. “Before Covid, many federally-funded community health centers did not reimburse for telehealth. Obviously, the Pandemic changed everyone’s perspective, and now it’s an important wellness tool. Overall, I think Covid forced new ways to function and be more efficient.” It’s only fitting that July 10, 2021, was named Samuel Diaz III Day, in honor of front-line health care workers, as part of the Puerto Rican Parade of Fairfield County.
In addition to his partner, Debbie, and their newborn son, Samuel Diaz IV, Sam devotes his free time to salsa and merengue music as a percussionist and saxophone player. He and his father, a percussionist and music educator, are part of the band Orquesta Afinke. Sam also enjoys playing Bomba and Plena music, traditional Puerto Rican genres that originated as a musical “newspaper” slaves exchanged from field to field. He’s part of a salsa band, Luisito Rosario, and a Bomba music educational group, Movimiento Cultural.
Sam sees his achievements as a way to help the next generation. He never misses an opportunity to influence young people positively. His words to live by will come as no surprise:
“As long as you work hard, you can do anything and everything you want.”
