Class of 2002: Profiles

Jeff Lathi
Jeff was raised in Crystal Lake, Ill., where at age 16 he was diagnosed with Type I diabetes. He had a successful career at Grenell College, graduating with honors and lettering in both varsity tennis and varsity swimming. He graduated from Northwestern University Medical School, where he received honors in one-third of his clinical rotations, including emergency medicine at Cook County and Northwestern hospitals. While in medical school, he has been involved in both the Cabrini Green youth program and the Horizons program. He was also the 1996 winner of the American Diabetic Association's National Youth Leadership Award. Jeff enjoys all types of athletics (he has finished several triathlons), travel and hiking.

Michelle Meziere
Michelle comes from Addison, Ill., and received her undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, where she was a general assembly scholarship recipient. She graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago Medical School, where she received A's in more than 60 percent of her clinical rotations, worked part-time as an office assistant, and gave birth to her daughter in 1996. Michelle enjoys health and fitness, in addition to spending time with her family.

Thomas Oh
Tom was born and raised in the Los Angeles area. After one year at the University of California at San Diego, he spent a year as a Christian missionary in Korea. He completed his undergraduate degree at Pacific Union College. Tom graduated from Loma Linda Medical School, where he finished in the top third of his medical school class and his test taking abilities placed him in the top 17 percent of the country (USMLE). While in medical school, he founded the Emergency Medicine Interest Group, was part of the homeless ministry and was a youth leader in his church. Tom enjoys golf, basketball and playing musical instruments (piano, violin and trumpet).

Matthew Pisano
Matt was born in New Jersey and went to high school in Elk Grove Village, Ill. He received his undergraduate degree from DePaul University, where he was elected Phi Beta Kappa. Matt graduated from Indiana University Medical School where he was elected AOA and his test taking abilities put him in the top 1 percent of the country (USMLE). He also received the Thomas Troeger Award (top student for MS-1 and MS-2 students at the South Bend - Indiana University campus) and submitted a paper for publication (to Annals of Internal Medicine) on pulmonary emboli. Matt enjoys staying physically fit, basketball and water skiing.

Alicia Salazar
Alicia was raised in Dundee, Illinois, where her love of horseback riding (Dressage) led her to international competition representing the United States at the North American Young Riders Championships where her team medalled (3 gold, 2 bronze) from 1989 through 1993. Alicia received an individual medal in 1992. She received her undergraduate degree from Augustana College. She graduated from Northwestern University Medical School, where she received honors in over half of her clinical rotations and her test taking abilities put her in the top 9 percent of the country (USMLE). While at Northwestern, she served on the curriculum evaluation committee, worked in three different volunteer organizations and was a medical team member for the Chicago marathon. Alicia still enjoys horseback riding, along with downhill skiing and running.

Joseph Stock
Joe is from the Chicago area and received his undergraduate degree from Illinois Benedictine University where he graduated Summa Cum Laude. Joe graduated from Rush Medical College where he was in the top 5 percent of his class, received A's in over 75 percent of his clinical rotations and his test taking abilities put him in the top 1 percent of the country (USMLE). While at Rush, he served on the Committee for Educational Resources and was a volunteer at the Franciscan Homeless Health Clinic. Joe enjoys martial arts, golf, basketball, travel and astronomy.

Michael Thomas
Mike was born in California and raised in Alabama. He graduated from Troy State University in Alabama, where he was Summa Cum Laude with a 4.0 GPA. He graduated from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine where he was awarded a four-year health professions scholarship, received A's in half of his clinical rotations and his test-taking ability put him in the top 7 percent of the country (USMLE). While at Vanderbilt, he did research on the molecular biophysics of memory, volunteered for a center for underprivileged children and took a training session in the School of Aerospace Medicine at Brook Air Force Base. Mike enjoys running, lifting weights, fly-fishing, backpacking and travel.

Pranav Virmani
Pranav was born in Bombay, India. At age 10, he immigrated with his family to the Washington, D.C.,-Bethesda, Md., area. He received his undergraduate degree at Washington University in St. Louis, Mo., graduating with honors and receiving a four-year merit scholarship. Pranav graduated from Howard University Medical School, where he was elected AOA in his junior year and was ranked No. 2 in his class. His test-taking abilities place him in the top 1 percent in the country (USMLE). He was also co-president of the Emergency Medicine Student Association, and published an article on cardiac Triponin as a marker for perioperative myocardial infarction. Pranav enjoys athletics (running, mountain biking, basketball, racquetball and tennis) and travel.

Katherine Webster
Katherine was born and raised in Maine, and received her undergraduate degree in music performance at Northwestern University. After graduation she worked as a free-lance musician, sales and marketing manager, high school band director and photography teacher. She graduated from Northwestern University Medical School, where she received honors in one-half of her clinical rotations and her test-taking abilities put her in the top 9 percent in the country (USMLE). While in medical school, she worked at the Ashland Community Clinic and served on the Curriculum Review Committee for the medical school. Katherine and her husband enjoy mountain biking, hiking, skiing and swimming. (Rumor has it that she still plays a mean French horn.)