Glacial Ridge Health System welcomes Certified Nurse Practitioner Sam Goracke to its growing medical staff. Raised in Starbuck, Goracke returns to the area after spending most of his career caring for patients in hospitals, intensive care units, and emergency departments in the Twin Cities. He was a registered nurse for six years before earning his Master of Science in Nursing as a Family Nurse Practitioner and completing a year-long fellowship in Hospital Medicine with HealthPartners two years ago. Goracke joined GRHS as a hospitalist in September 2026.

“We’re excited to welcome Sam back to the area,” said Kirk Stensrud, CEO. “His experience in critical care and hospital medicine is a strong addition to our team.”

“When people are at their sickest, I know that I need to be at my best,” Goracke said. Being born and raised in Starbuck, he added, “This is home — these are the people I grew up next to, and the opportunity at Glacial Ridge is especially meaningful as it allows me to work alongside many skilled medical staff to improve the quality of life for our neighbors, friends, and family.”

He and his wife have three children, two Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, and a German Shorthaired Pointer. When he’s not at work, he is likely with his family or doing almost any outdoor activity, including golfing, hunting, fishing, gardening, and beekeeping.