Sam has spent most of his professional life caring for patients in hospitals, intensive care units, and emergency departments in the Twin Cities. He treats every patient as a whole person, not just as numbers or statistics. His practice is grounded in evidence-based medicine, while remaining open to healthcare in all forms.
Sam was raised in Starbuck, where growing up in a rural community shaped his belief in supporting local communities and working together to improve the lives of those around him. In high school, a local provider served as his mentor, giving him a firsthand look at rural medicine, and completing an EMT course furthered his interest in a career in medicine.
His academic path began with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Iowa, followed by nursing degrees through North Hennepin Community College and the University of Cincinnati. He worked as a registered nurse for six years before earning a Master of Science in Nursing as a Family Nurse Practitioner at Bradley University in Illinois. To further his skills and knowledge, Sam chose to complete a year-long Advanced Practice Clinician Fellowship in Hospital Medicine with HealthPartners in the Twin Cities.
Rural medicine has always meant something personal to him. Working at Glacial Ridge is especially meaningful because he gets to work alongside a team of skilled providers and care staff to improve the quality of life for neighbors, friends, and family. Sam joined Glacial Ridge Health System in September 2026 as a hospitalist.
Sam and his wife have three children, two Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, and a German Shorthaired Pointer. If he’s not at work, Sam’s probably outside — his interests include golfing, hunting, fishing, water sports, gardening, traveling, cooking, and a newfound interest in beekeeping. He’s also an avid sports fan, cheering on the Iowa Hawkeyes, Minnesota Vikings, Wild, Twins, and Timberwolves.