Sam Lillard Clark, M.D., Ph.D., was an anatomist, scientist, and medical educator. He was born in Nashville on October 5, 1898. Clark's grandfather, Dr. William Martin Clark, was a founder and one-time owner of the Nashville Banner.

Clark received his B.A. from Vanderbilt University in 1922, his M.S. degree in anatomy from Northwestern University, and his Doctor of Philosophy degree in anatomy from Washington University in St. Louis. In 1930, he was awarded the Doctor of Medicine degree from Vanderbilt.

Clark served as Assistant Professor of Anatomy at Washington University and at Northwestern University. In 1930 he was appointed to the faculty at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. He rose through the ranks to be appointed full Professor and Head of the Department of Anatomy in 1937. For many years Sam Clark brought distinction to VUSM as an educator, researcher, lecturer, and writer on his specialty and as an administrator. He established a diagnostic electroencephalographic laboratory. From 1945 to 1950 he was associate dean of the medical school and in June 1958 was named acting dean until the appointment of a permanent successor. Additionally, Clark was a director of the Bill Wilkerson Hearing and Speech Center and served many years as a member of the state anatomical board. Dr. Clark died on July 1, 1960 after a long illness. He was 61.