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Our Graduates 1970 to 2007

See the names and current practice sites of our 400 graduates. Then click on the Featured Alumni link to learn about the exciting work being by some of them — working for health care reform, researching racial differences among patients concerning end-of-life inetrventions, spearheading the Ideal MicroPractice concept, and writing poetry.

Recent Graduates

Class of 2007

clip02 clip04 Sonya Foster-Merrow, MD

Vidush P. Athyal, M.D.
Ben Gurion University of the Negev

Jessica A. Davis, M.D.
University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry

Sonya Foster-Merrow, M.D.
Tulane University School of Medicine

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LeWanza M. Harris, M.D.
University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry

Brittany L. Morse, M.D.
University at Buffalo School of Medicine

Leonore Novotny, M.D.
University of Zurich

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Emily S. Queenan, M.D.
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine

Nao Sakurai, M.D.
Albany Medical College

Eric Wilcox, D.O.
Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine

  Ronald Yearwood, MD  
 

Ronald S. Yearwood, M.D.
St. George's University

 

Vidush P. Athyal, M.D.
I consider myself a mix of both the U.S. and Indian cultures. I was born and brought up in India, but have lived in the U.S. since high school. This cross-cultural blend is probably the root of my passion to serve people through international public health and medicine. I earned my M.P.H. in International Health from Loma Linda University, California, and then joined the Ben Gurion/Columbia University medical program. After medical school, I did one year of research in Preventive Medicine at the Mayo Clinic, Minnesota. Joining the International Health Track of the U of R Family Medicine Residency Program is the icing on the cake to my training. My lovely wife, Merina, and I are looking forward to our three years here in Rochester, where we can celebrate the diversity of this area.

Jessica A. Davis, M.D.
I grew up in a small rural town north of Albany, New York. I majored in biomedical engineering at the University of Rochester, where I met my husband. He works as an optical engineer. We like Rochester so much that we stayed for medical school and now residency. When we’re not working on our house and garden projects, Art and I love swing dancing, hiking, and playing with our two cats. I also enjoy volleyball, kayaking, cooking, crocheting, and various other crafts.

LeWanza M. Harris, M.D.
I am originally from Memphis, Tennessee. My undergraduate studies were at Xavier University in Louisiana. I am an alumna of the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. My husband, Fredrick, and I enjoy traveling and collecting art, antiques, and memorabilia. I have a true passion for culinary arts and music. My area of interest is health care disparities and health advocacy.

Sonya Foster-Merrow, M.D.
I come to Rochester from a small town in Pennsylvania. I completed my undergraduate work at Hampton University in beautiful Hampton Roads, Virginia, and my medical degree at Tulane University in New Orleans. Outside of medicine, my life is incredibly filled with joy and excitement. I am proud to say that I am a new mother and my son is the most beautiful child in the world. I spend every waking moment that I can watching him grow and discover life.

Brittany L. Morse, M.D.
I grew up just outside of Rochester in LeRoy, New York (the home of Jell-O). We love the little town so much that my husband, Adam, our son Bailey J., and I are making it our home still. I am a graduate of SUNY Geneseo and the University of Buffalo School of Medicine. Outside of medicine, my interests are centered on my family, spending all of my “extra” time raising Bailey and building our new house with Adam.

Leonore Novotny, M.D.
I was born in Switzerland, spent seven years of my childhood in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, returned to Switzerland, and graduated there at the University of Zurich. After one year of residency in Surgery and two years of residency in Internal Medicine, my husband and I moved to the United States in 1996, where we had two wonderful children. Since medicine has always my passion, I decided to go back to work and do a residency here. In my spare time I enjoy hiking, biking, skiing, woodworking, playing the piano, and spending time with my family.

Emily S. Queenan, M.D.
After growing up outside of Philadelphia in Haverford, Pennsylvania, I went to Williams College, where I discovered my love for all things outdoorsy, particularly hiking, backpacking, biking, and climbing. After college I spent a year and a half working in the pediatrics department of a community health center in New York as an AmeriCorps Health Corps member. It was a phenomenal experience and really allowed me to explore my passion for community and public health. After I left New York, I spent five months through-hiking the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine. One week after finishing, I returned to Philadelphia to start medical school at the University of Pennsylvania. While in medical school I met the love of my life, Rick, and we were married the day before my medical school graduation. We fell in love with Rochester on our first day here (in December no less!) and are so excited to establish a life here.

Nao Sakurai, M.D.
I am here in Rochester because our residency program has strong roots in biopsychosocial medicine, and I hope to become a mindful healer. My branches of interest in care of the underserved, cultural diversity, integrative medicine, and global health have grown bigger during my medical education at Albany Medical College. Growing up in Japan with many folklore and fairy tales, I like reading, writing, and listening to stories. After graduating from the University of Oregon, I worked at a feminist bookstore and discovered more stories. I also enjoy swimming, making and drinking teas, and looking at the sky and the earth.

Eric Wilcox, D.O.
I'm a native Rochesterian who graduated from East High School and SUNY College at Brockport. Since graduating from Brockport, I have been on sabbatical in search of sunshine and cloudless days, which I successfully found in the four locations that I have lived over the last decade: Dallas, Nashville, Denver, and most recently a four-year stint in Sacramento. I have returned to Rochester to be close to my relatives and to participate in what I believe to be the best Family Medicine residency in the country. My wife, Mary Beth, and I met while in high school and have been happily married for the past 12 years. We have three wonderful children ages 11, 5, and 2. When not at the hospital or at clinic, I enjoy playing basketball, taking part in outdoor activities, and spending time with my wife and children.

Ronald S. Yearwood, M.D.
I was born in Caracas, Venezuela, but raised in Grenada and Barbados, Caribbean. I completed my undergraduate and post-graduate education in London, England. After graduating from the University of London with a B.A. in liberal arts, I embarked on a diverse career path (teaching, direct and telemarketing, business analysis, and project management). I have visited several continents, participated in a 12-month trans-Atlantic sailing expedition, and was a volunteer counselor (specialization in suicide) for several years. I completed my pre-medical and medical doctorate at St. George’s University (Grenada and St. Vincent) and did my clinical clerkships in Birmingham, England and New York and Miami. I enjoy multiple outdoor sports and hiking. I lived in Puerto Rico before coming to Rochester. I consider it an absolute privilege to be at the University of Rochester. My main objective is to be as good a physician as I can, so as to maximize my own personal potential. I intend to pursue further work in psychiatry and geriatrics after completing my Family Medicine residency.

 

Class of 2006

Lucy L. Bucci, M.D.
Ben Gurion University of the Negev

Jose R. Canario, M.D.
Eastern Virginia Medical School

Adriane Cross, M.D.
University of Vermont College of Medicine

Sarah C. Kent, M.D.
Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey

S. Steven Kim, M.D.
St. George's University

John N. Murimi, M.D.
St. George's University

Elizabeth Brown, M.D.
Ben Gurion University of the Negev

Ahmad M. Rana, M.D.
Dow Medical College, University of Karachi

Angela L. Tobias, M.D.
Baylor College of Medicine

Edward B. Yoon, M.D.
Northeastern Ohio University College of Medicine

 

Elizabeth Brown, M.D.
I was born and grew up in coastal Maine. During my years at Messiah College, I became interested in international health. After graduation I embarked on a trip to Israel to begin medical school at Ben Gurion University of the Negev’s M.D. Program in International Health and Medicine. I loved the experience of working and living in a new culture and the opportunity to travel to places like Jordan, Egypt, Cyprus, and Kenya. After medical school, I spent a year pursuing a Master of Public Health degree at Columbia University. I’m glad that I came to Rochester, and still feel that this is the best place for me. After a year as co-chief resident, I am joining the Family Medicine Department as faculty in 2007. I enjoy the outdoors, hiking, softball, a good book, and spending time with my husband.

Lucy L. Bucci, M.D.
Global health and medicine are my passions. To serve others with clinical medicine and public health is what I love to do most in life. Outside of work, I love to cook, read for leisure, exercise, travel, listen to good music, eat good food, spend time with family and my beau, and hike. Training in the Family Medicine Residency Program here at the U of R and having my continuity office at Brown Square are experiences of a lifetime.

Jose R. Canario, M.D.
Although born in the Windy City, I grew up in wild, wonderful West Virginia. After five years and two undergraduate schools, I finally graduated with a B.S. in chemistry from Salve Regina University. While at SRU, I obligated myself to the United States Navy. During my Navy stint I had the opportunity to travel around South America and live in Italy for close to three years. Upon returning to the United States, I taught at a Naval school for health and legal professionals. During this time I was encouraged by my students to pursue my dream of becoming a physician. I applied for and received a scholarship through the Navy. Also during this time I met my future wife, Irene. I attended Eastern Virginia Medical School and served two years payback to the Navy. Now I’m here in Rochester enjoying the program immensely and watching my daughter grow and develop.

Adriane Cross, M.D.
I’m a graduate of the University of Vermont’s College of Medicine. I love Rochester and the program here at Highland. I particularly enjoy Community Medicine, which is a huge part
of our program. I am glad to say that I continue to have some free time to spend gardening, practicing yoga, listening to live music, and enjoying the outdoors.

Sarah Kent, M.D.
I am a graduate of Penn State University College of Medicine in Hershey (yes, the town does smell like chocolate) and Messiah College. Although a native of Pennsylvania and having lived most of my life there, I was attracted to Rochester by its rolling hills outside the city. The hills remind me of my home area, where I was raised on a truck farm with my five siblings. One of my interests within the confines of medicine is clinical research, particularly in the area of insulin resistance. Outside of medicine, I enjoy playing the piano and crocheting.

Steven Kim, M.D.
I was born in Seoul, Korea but spent early years of my life in Columbia, South America. I moved to the United States when I was 12 years old and grew up in New Jersey and California. After getting my B.S. in biochemistry at Boston College, I was obsessed for eight months with backpack traveling throughout the globe until I entered St. George’s University School of Medicine, where I was exposed to the Caribbean sun and white sand beaches. I am greatly interested in the International Health Track at the Family Medicine program. I enjoy traveling, skiing, and playing video games.

John Murimi, M.D.
I am a St. George’s University graduate. I was born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya. Apart from my interest in pediatrics and adolescent medicine, I am looking forward to seeing how the International Health Track develops. I enjoy foreign films and travel.

Ahmad Rana, M.D.
I was born and raised in Pakistan. I graduated from Dow Medical College, Karachi. After graduation, I practiced medicine for a couple of years with my father who is a pulmonologist and a family physician. I moved to the United States in 1998. I spent my initial years at Boston and did clinical research at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. I have done an externship in medicine in Baltimore and my preliminary year of residency in surgery at Yale. I like sports and play squash and tennis and enjoy skiing during the winter. I love both eastern and western music. I like to travel and explore new cultures. My future goal is to do a fellowship after residency. I find myself very lucky to be accepted by the Family Medicine program at the University of Rochester and look forward to serving the community it serves.

Angela Tobias, M.D.
I was born and raised in Post, Texas. Don’t feel bad if you’ve never heard of it. I trained at Rice University and Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, where I was first a biochemistry and Russian major and then an MD/Ph.D student. Eventually I came to my senses, quit grad school and came back to medical school with a commitment to serve the underserved. In Rochester I found shared priorities, extremely warm and hospitable colleagues, and a great training program. I enjoy obstetrics and multicultural medicine, and in my free time I relax with cross stitch and crochet, movies, and several other nerdy things. But I plan to take up hiking now that I live in a place that has hills.

Edward Yoon, M.D.
I was raised in Ohio where I obtained my B.S. from the University of Akron. I graduated from Northeastern Ohio University College of Medicine in 1994. I then finished a residency in OB/GYN at Summa Health Systems in Akron City Hospital in 1998. I was board-certified in 2000 and have practiced in Ohio and North Carolina. After approximately five years of practice I have returned to residency to become board-certified in family practice. I enjoy spending time with my wife, Gina, and two children, Tommy and Kelly.