Arthur Samuels is a leader in the Afro-Costa Rican community and an advocate for the rights of African descendants in Central America. His valuable work includes facilitating the changing of Costa Rican law to include the themes of Spirituality and Medicinal Plants in the national definition of health and implementing efficient testing for Sickle Cell Anemia, a leading cause of preventable death among Afro-Costa Ricans. Arthur works with the Costa Rican Committee of Afro-descendants to address the intersection of race and public health policy, advocating not only for equal access to health care, but a more culturally-sensitive definition of wellness.