We’re looking forward to introducing you to Samantha Gambles Farr. Check out our conversation below.
Good morning Samantha, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
I absolutely love to dance, so it is no surprise that I love Zumba. The music, the movement, the energy — it’s where I let go of stress and just feel free. Every beat lifts my spirit, every dance feels like celebration. I love how Zumba brings people together — the laughter, the smiles, the sense of community. It’s not just exercise; it’s joy in motion.
That feeling is what makes me want to become a Zumba instructor. I want to share that same energy and happiness with others — to create a space where people feel confident, accepted, and alive. For me, teaching Zumba isn’t just about dance steps; it’s about connection, empowerment, and helping others find their own rhythm and joy through movement.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Samantha Gambles Farr, and I have served in healthcare for over three decades. I currently work as a Nurse Practitioner Intensivist in the Surgical Intensive Care Nurse Practitioner for UC San Diego in the Department of Trauma, Burns, Surgical Critical Care and Acute Care Surgery , caring for the sickest and most complex patients. My work in critical care has given me a deep appreciation for resilience, teamwork, and compassionate leadership — qualities that guide everything I do, both at the bedside and beyond.
In addition to my clinical work, I’m deeply involved in advancing Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) in healthcare. As President of the San Diego Black Nurses Association during the pandemic, I founded our COVID-19 Taskforce, which delivered thousands of vaccines to underserved communities. I also serve as Chair of the Nurse Practitioner Advisory Committee (NPAC) for the California Board of Registered Nursing and remain actively engaged with the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM), where I work to elevate the voices of advanced practice providers and promote equitable care across critical care settings.
What makes my work unique is the bridge between critical care, healthcare policy, leadership, and advocacy — healing patients in crisis while working to transform healthcare systems. I’m passionate about mentoring future nurse leaders and driving initiatives that foster representation, empowerment, and equity in every corner of medicine.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
My parents saw me clearly long before I ever understood who I was becoming. They recognized my strength, compassion, and drive even when I doubted myself. My mother saw a nurturer — someone who would care deeply for others — and my father saw a leader with a voice meant to create change. Together, they taught me resilience, humility, and purpose.
They empowered me to be my absolute best — not by pushing perfection, but by instilling a relentless work ethic, a drive for excellence, and the reminder to always move with dignity and integrity. They showed me that true success isn’t only about achievement, but about character and consistency when no one is watching.
Their lessons also shaped how I lead today. They taught me that power is not something to hold, but to share — that leading the way for others and lifting people as you climb is where true strength lies. Every step I take in my career and community is a reflection of their belief in me and the values they so intentionally instilled.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me lessons that success never could — lessons in humility, resilience, and the power of starting over. When I flunked out of the University of Arizona after my divorce, it was the lowest point of my life. I had always been an excellent student, but in that moment, everything fell apart. Other schools wouldn’t accept me despite my history of academic achievement. I felt defeated, embarrassed, and ashamed — as if one failure had erased all the years of hard work that came before it.
But that pain became my turning point. I rebuilt myself piece by piece, fueled by faith, determination, and purpose. Today, I have completed my post-master’s Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program and am now enrolled in a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program — something that once felt impossible.
Now, I use that experience as my testimony to others in nursing, especially those who think failure defines them. I remind them that setbacks don’t disqualify you — they refine you. As the saying goes, “Failure is not the opposite of success; it’s part of success.”
My suffering taught me grace, empathy, and perseverance — qualities that no degree or accolade alone could ever teach. It taught me that strength is not in never falling, but in rising again, with purpose and power, every single time. I may be delayed but I won’t be denied.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes — the public version of me is real, but it’s not all of me. I am not a monolith; I have many sides, each authentic in its own way. The version of me that shows up in professional spaces — the leader, the advocate, the Nurse Practitioner Intensivist — is grounded in truth, purpose, and passion. That version reflects my commitment to excellence, equity, and service.
But there’s also the personal side of me — the daughter, the mother, the friend — the one who laughs loud, sings loudly, dances unapologetically, loves deeply, and finds peace in stillness. That part I reserve for my family and close friends, the people who have seen me at both my strongest and most vulnerable.
Though those sides may be separate, they are all true. Each represents a part of who I am and the spaces I hold in this world. Together, they form the whole story — one of authenticity, balance, and grace.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
In high school, I thought my path would lead me to become a cardiac surgeon — I was fascinated by the heart, its rhythm, its precision, its power to give life. But life has a way of guiding us exactly where we’re meant to be, and for me, that was becoming a Nurse Practitioner.
In this role, I’ve found a deeper kind of fulfillment — one rooted in connection, compassion, and advocacy. I get to care for the sickest patients in the ICU while also standing beside families during their most vulnerable moments. It’s sacred work, and I truly love it.
Still, I know my purpose extends beyond the hospital walls. Although I have worked in organizations for the community, I am currently cultivating my next steps — to expand access to care, educate, and empower others to take charge of their health. Nursing has given me the foundation, but my calling is to use that foundation to make an even broader impact on the world around me.
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