Cardiologists start careers together at Saint Alphonsus in Nampa

Drs. George Samaan and Ryley McPeters, friends since fellowship, begin their careers at the same hospital

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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Cardiologists George Samaan and Ryley McPeters, who met during their fellowship at Tulane University, have both started their careers at Saint Alphonsus Heart Care in Nampa, Idaho. The two doctors, who became close friends during their training, were both drawn to the Treasure Valley region and the growth opportunities at Saint Alphonsus.

Why it matters

The story highlights the growing demand for healthcare professionals in the rapidly expanding Treasure Valley region of Idaho, as well as the ability of healthcare systems like Saint Alphonsus to attract and retain top talent by providing strong support and resources to physicians.

The details

Samaan and McPeters met during their cardiology fellowship at Tulane University in New Orleans in 2020. They became close friends and even neighbors during their additional year of training for an interventional cardiology fellowship. As they looked to start their careers, Samaan's wife's desire to return to the Pacific Northwest led the couple to consider Idaho, where they were impressed by the growth and support offered by Saint Alphonsus. Samaan then encouraged McPeters to also apply, and the two friends ended up joining the Saint Alphonsus team in Nampa.

  • Samaan and McPeters met during their cardiology fellowship at Tulane University in New Orleans in 2020.
  • They both stayed at Tulane for an additional year for their interventional cardiology fellowship in 2021.
  • Samaan and his wife visited Idaho in October 2023 and decided it would be a good fit for them.

The players

Dr. George Samaan

A cardiologist at Saint Alphonsus Heart Care in Nampa, Idaho, who met his colleague and friend Dr. Ryley McPeters during their fellowship at Tulane University.

Dr. Ryley McPeters

A cardiologist at Saint Alphonsus Heart Care in Nampa, Idaho, who met his colleague and friend Dr. George Samaan during their fellowship at Tulane University.

Saint Alphonsus Heart Care

A healthcare system in Nampa, Idaho that has attracted Drs. Samaan and McPeters to join its team of cardiologists.

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What they’re saying

“Then I got a call from the director of the interventional program in Saint Alphonsus, and it was probably the best recruiting call that I have ever done in my life. Like, super open about everything, just telling it as it is.”

— Dr. George Samaan, Cardiologist (idahobusinessreview.com)

“I think the health care systems here realize that there's a huge shortage [of health care staff], and so they try to add as much support to us as physicians as possible. That way we are able to succeed and focus on the tasks that we need to be doing.”

— Dr. George Samaan, Cardiologist (idahobusinessreview.com)

“I think that's just the biggest challenge: Trying to provide care for a growing number of people in an area that's rapidly expanding, so there's definitely never a shortage of patients.”

— Dr. Ryley McPeters, Cardiologist (idahobusinessreview.com)

What’s next

As Drs. Samaan and McPeters continue their careers at Saint Alphonsus, they will likely play a key role in meeting the growing demand for heart care services in the rapidly expanding Treasure Valley region.

The takeaway

The story of Drs. Samaan and McPeters illustrates how healthcare systems in high-growth areas like Idaho are able to attract and retain top talent by offering strong support and resources to physicians, allowing them to focus on providing excellent patient care.