O, The Oprah Magazine Features Point of Light Honoree Samantha Peterson

At sixteen, Samantha Peterson underwent spinal fusion surgery to correct a 60-degree curvature of her spine due to scoliosis. The surgery gave her a second chance at life – and a purpose. She co-founded SHIFT Scoliosis to ensure that all children are regularly screened for scoliosis and have access to medical care. Samantha has co-led five medical outreach trips that have impacted 21 impoverished or geographically isolated communities and has screened 4,000 children for the medical condition. She has educated 10,000 people about the signs and symptoms of scoliosis. Now, she is developing medical technology that will forever change the way scoliosis screening is conducted and, once developed, will help hundreds of thousands of children annually.

To learn more about Samantha’s story, check out the January issue of O, The Oprah Magazine – on stands December 6th.