Sam Cullan, M.D., J.D.

Dr. Sam Cullan is a Medical Doctor, Engineer, and Board-Certified Trial Lawyer by the National Board of Advocacy. He is also Board Certified in Legal Medicine by the American College of Legal Medicine. Dr. Cullan was named 2016 Lawyer of the Year for Medical Malpractice in Kansas City by the Best Lawyers in America. He has also been named as a Top 10 Super Lawyer® for Missouri and Kansas on three different occasions, which recognizes outstanding trial lawyers as chosen by their peers. Sam has also been named as Best of the Bar for ten consecutive years by the Kansas City Business Journal.

Dr. Cullan handles cases involving catastrophic personal injury, medical malpractice, and wrongful death. He is a renowned advocate for victims of brain and spinal cord injuries – especially children who have suffered birth injury, cerebral palsy, hypoxic brain injuries, and brachial plexus injuries due to medical malpractice. He is frequently asked to consult on birth injury and brain injury cases throughout the United States. He also lectures at medical schools and medical conferences on how to prevent medical negligence and patient injury.

Before Becoming a Prominent Attorney – Young Senator Cullan

Dr. Sam Cullan graduated with honors with a major in Marine Engineering from the United States Merchant Marine Academy. After graduating, he ran for public office. He was elected to the Nebraska State Senate at the age of 22. The fact that Dr. Cullan was such a young senator did not stop him from becoming influential. He served as a Senator for seven years. He chaired the Health and Welfare Committee, co-chaired the Appropriations Committee, and served on multiple other committees. While remaining fiscally responsible, he sponsored and pushed through groundbreaking legislation to fund cancer research and protect the public health and the natural resources of the State of Nebraska.

Legal & Medical Education

Dr. Cullan attended Creighton University School of Law and graduated cum laude in 1982. In 1987, while practicing law, he earned a Medical Degree from Creighton University Medical School. He was President of his senior medical school class and he received the Upjohn Achievement Award.

After medical school, Dr. Sam Cullan worked for one of the largest firms in Kansas City that defended medical malpractice cases and serious personal injury claims. This experience gave him an in-depth look and insight into the methods or tactics insurance companies employ to fight and delay meritorious serious personal injury and medical negligence cases.

Establishing Cullan & Cullan in Kansas City

In 1990, Dr. Sam Cullan founded the Kansas City branch of the Cullan law firm with a continued concentration on fighting insurance companies on behalf of clients injured as a result of birth injuries, medical malpractice, semi-truck accidents, defective products, dangerous drugs, nursing home abuse, and wrongful death.

Dr. Cullan is often asked to lecture at continuing legal education seminars and at medical schools. He sponsors several free seminars each year for parents of special needs children including neonatal and pediatric CPR classes, seminars regarding, birth injury, brain injury litigation, IEP’s, resources for special needs children, and free insurance reviews for past or present clients.

Dr. Sam Cullan is licensed to practice in Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, and Arizona. He is a member of many professional legal organizations including the American Association for Justice; the Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, and Arizona Bar Associations; the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys; the Kansas Association for Justice; the Maricopa County Bar Association; and the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association.

The expansive legal and medical skills and knowledge that Dr. Cullan has earned help him provide injured victims and the families of wrongful death victims the support and action they need to overcome the challenges that have been forced on them.

Honors and Awards

• Lawyer of the Year in Kansas City for Medical Malpractice by Best Lawyers in America (2016, 2019, 2021, 2023)
• Recognized in Best Lawyers In America since 2015
• Named “Top 10” Attorney in Missouri and Kansas by Super Lawyers (2009, 2011 and 2012)
• Named to the Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers lists for 10 consecutive years
• Named to the Arizona Super Lawyers list
• Voted “Best of the Bar” by the Kansas City Business Journal for 9 consecutive years
• Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Member