Melissa Agoudemos, MD, PhD specializes in pediatric cardiology with a broad range of interests including neonatal congenital heart disease, myocarditis, Marfan’s syndrome and other connective tissue disorders, and arrhythmias such as supraventricular tachycardia (SVT). She has additional interest in echocardiographic evaluation of congenital heart disease utilizing transthoracic echo and fetal echo.   

Dr. Agoudemos received a bachelor's degree in biomedical engineering with a concentration in chemical engineering from Johns Hopkins University, where she graduated with honors and as a member of the Tau Beta Pi engineering honor society. She then entered the specialized Medical Scientist Training Program at the Medical College of Wisconsin to earn both her medical degree and a doctorate degree in physiology. During that time, she spent extensive time researching the process by which the body grows new blood vessels (angiogenesis). This led to multiple awards from the American Physiological Society.  

Dr. Agoudemos completed her pediatrics residency at the University of Iowa, a referral center focused on treating the most critical pediatric patients across Iowa. Her residency included a specialized research track where she focused on the effects of maternal disease on the cardiovascular health of children. This was followed by a three-year pediatric cardiology fellowship at the University of Iowa. During this time, she continued her research and won the F. M. Kenny Memorial Award in Pediatric Research. Clinically, Dr. Agoudemos developed her interest in imaging with extra training in echocardiography.  

Dr. Agoudemos is originally from the Midwest, and spent her early career working at Southern Illinois University. Now that she's in Idaho, she never plans to leave! She feels honored to provide specialized pediatric cardiac care to the children of Idaho.  

In her free time, Dr. Agoudemos enjoys spending time with her two teenagers, three cats, and husband.  

Brad Mulkey, PA-C provides cardiac care in both inpatient and outpatient settings. He also provides care to adult congenital heart disease patients who have had lifelong cardiac complications.

Brad earned his bachelor's degree in respiratory therapy from Boise State University and his master's degree in physician assistant studies from the University of Utah School of Medicine.

Elizabeth “Tess” Vickers Saarel, MD, FAAP, FACC, FHRS is a pediatric cardiologist and electrophysiologist with special expertise in heart rhythm disorders, sports cardiology, and syncope. She treats patients of all ages, including newborns, children, teens, adults, and pregnant women. Her goal is to improve the quality and longevity of life for adults and children born with heart problems.

Prior to joining St. Luke’s, Dr. Saarel practiced cardiology at the University of Michigan, the University of Utah, Primary Children’s Medical Center, and the Cleveland Clinic. She is a professor at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine at CWRU. Her academic research is in the prevention of sudden cardiac death in youth, the diagnosis and treatment of heart rhythm disorders in children and adults with congenital heart disease, sports cardiology, and quality improvement.

Dr. Saarel now serves on the executive committees for the Pediatric and Congenital Electrophysiology Society, the Section on Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery for the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Cardiac Safety Research Consortium Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death in the Young Task Force, and the ACC National Cardiac Data IMPACT Registry. She also holds leadership positions at the American College of Cardiology, American Heart Association, and the Pediatric Heart Network. Past activities have included leadership in the American Board of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Pediatrics Executive Committee for Quality Improvement and Patient Safety.