Michael B. Sabom is an American cardiologist, confessing Christian[1] and near-death experience researcher.

Education edit

Sabom attended Colorado College, graduating in 1966.[2] He completed his medical education at the University of Texas Medical Branch in 1970.[3][4] He completed his cardiology training at the University of Florida in 1978.[4]

Career edit

After finishing his training, Sabom spent a few years as an assistant professor of cardiology at Emory University[5] before moving into private practice.[3] He retired from private practice in 2017.[4]

Sabom is known for his work on near-death experiences. He is a founding member of the International Association for Near Death Studies.[6]

Sabom has written two books about near-death experiences. The first book, Recollections of Death: A Medical Investigation, was released in 1982. Sabom presented interviews with 116 people who had experienced a near-death crisis, which he discusses and classifies. This book was positively received for providing a relatively objective and medicine-based point of view,[7][8] though one reviewer speculated that the "author's wish to believe may have colored his analysis."[7] It has been cited over 800 times in scholarly works, according to Google Scholar.[9]

The second book, Light and Death, was released in 1998. Similarly to the first book, Sabom interviews 160 patients following near-death crises. Although it still retained some medical and scientific aspects, this book was written from a more religious (Christian) viewpoint.[10] The book is notable for describing the Pam Reynolds case, a case of a near-death experience that has received some media attention,[11] and which Sabom investigated. This work (particularly that involving Pam Reynolds) has been criticized by the author Sam Harris for possible experimenter bias, unconscious witness tampering and false memories.[12]

An interview with Sabom was featured in the 2023 film After Death.[13]

Publications edit

  • Sabom, Michael (1982). Recollections of Death: A Medical Investigation. New York: Harper & Row. ISBN 0-06-014895-0. OCLC 7575459. [7][8]
  • Sabom, Michael (1998). Light & Death: One Doctor's Fascinating Account of Near-Death Experiences. Grand Rapids, Mich: Zondervan. ISBN 978-0-310-21992-7. OCLC 39756347.[10]

References edit

  1. ^ "Michael Sabom". www.ukapologetics.net. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
  2. ^ "New Books by Colorado College Alumni and Professors". Bulletin. Colorado College. Spring 1999. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
  3. ^ a b "Michael B. Sabom, MD, FACC". The Heart Center of Northeast Georgia Medical Center. Archived from the original on March 18, 2016.
  4. ^ a b c Michael Sabom on LinkedIn  
  5. ^ Sabom, Michael (1982). "About the Author". Recollections of Death: A Medical Investigation. New York: Harper & Row. ISBN 0-06-014895-0. OCLC 7575459.
  6. ^ "History". International Association for Near Death Studies. August 29, 2017. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
  7. ^ a b c Hornbein, Thomas F. (1982). "Book Review: Recollections of Death: A Medical Investigation". New England Journal of Medicine. 307 (5): 324–325. doi:10.1056/NEJM198207293070529. ISSN 0028-4793.
  8. ^ a b Grosso, Michael (December 1981). "Book Review: Recollections of Death: A Medical Perspective (by Michael B. Sabom)". Journal of Near-Death Studies. 1 (2). Retrieved January 6, 2020.
  9. ^ "Recollections of Death: A Medical Investigation (citations)". Google Scholar. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
  10. ^ a b Gibbs, John (Winter 1999). "Book Review: Light and Death: One Doctor's Fascinating Account of Near-Death Experiences (by Michael B. Sabom)". Journal of Near-Death Studies. 18 (2). Retrieved January 11, 2020.
  11. ^ Hagerty, Barbara Bradley (May 22, 2009). "Decoding The Mystery Of Near-Death Experiences". NPR. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
  12. ^ Harris, Sam (September 9, 2014). Waking Up: a Guide to Spirituality without Religion (hardcover) (1st ed.). New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 9781451636017. OCLC 881518331.
  13. ^ Gleiberman, Owen (October 31, 2023). "'After Death' Review: A Faith-Based Documentary Pretends That the Afterlife Is Science". Variety. Archived from the original on November 1, 2023. Retrieved November 1, 2023.