Class of 2007 Biographies

Amber Conrad is originally from Freedom, WI. She is 22 years old. Amber has been living in La Crosse since 2001 where she attended UW-La Crosse for her bachelor’s degree. Her prior experience includes hospital volunteering, being a nurse’s aide at nursing homes, and as a medical assistant at Fox Valley Hematology & Oncology. Amber’s interests are spending time with her family up north, many outdoor activities, running, reading, and music.

Thomas Davey was raised in a rural lake area near Bemidji, a small city in northern Minnesota. He obtained his BS degree in biology and a minor in biochemistry from Bemidji State University in 2002. During and after his years at BSU Thomas enjoyed working at the local hospital as both a phlebotomist and an emergency room ward clerk. Other health care related experience includes newborn screening, viral diagnostic testing, and search coordination for marrow transplantation. His interests include a multitude of outdoor activities, music composition, travel, and playing piano. Thomas would like to practice in either Wisconsin or Minnesota.

Jamie Jones is originally from Moorhead, MN and attended the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. She graduated with a BS degree in Genetics, Cell Biology and Development in 2004 and worked as nursing assistant at Fairview University Medical Center throughout college. She also participated in leukemia research and was an undergraduate teaching assistant for an animal diversity course. Jamie loves playing volleyball and spending time at the lake and will be planning a wedding in her free time. She has an interest in oncology and plans to practice in the Midwest after graduation.

Sawra Karimi is a 2003 graduate from St. Olaf graduate with a B.A. in biology. She grew up in Northfield, Minn. but her family now resides in Rochester, Minn. Previous to her entry into this program Sawra was living in Minneapolis, MN. She worked for six months as a phlebotomist before
moving on to work in a pediatric intensive care unit. She is interested in working with all age groups upon graduation. Sawra has traveled to the Middle East and is interested in the possibility of returning for further travel and service upon graduation.

Sarah Locy

Tina Lorenzi was born in Chicago, IL and moved to Duluth, MN just before the start of high school. In 2003, she earned a BS in Biology with a Chemistry minor from the University of MN-Duluth. She has served in the Army Reserves since 1999 where she trained as an operating room specialist. As a civilian, she has worked at St. Mary’s Medical Center in Duluth as a surgical technologist since 2000. There she was part of the neurosurgical/trauma call team. Her hobbies include reading anything that doesn’t require a background in the sciences (i.e. Harry Potter), softball, retail therapy, and sleeping (newly acquired hobby).

Sylvia Osinde

Kari Rossow, originally from St. Paul, MN, but currently residing in Rochester, MN, with her husband of six years, graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, MN with degrees in Biochemistry and Chemistry in 1998. She had worked for seven years in research at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester before starting the PA program in La Crosse. She had volunteered at the Salvation Army Free Medical Clinic for the past three years. Her hobbies include: running, spending time with family and friends, and traveling. Kari plans on working as a PA at the Mayo Clinic in a yet to be determined area.

Sarah Shaikoski was born and raised in Marshall, MN. She earned a BA and BS in chemistry and exercise science from Southwest Minnesota State University in 2005. An important part of her undergraduate experience was working with a chemistry professor doing undergraduate research on silatranes. Prior to starting the PA program she worked as a home health aide. She looks forward to one day serving a rural community as a family practice physician assistant, and/or possibly working in rheumatology.

Ketdum Viet Souvannarath has six brothers and sisters and she is the youngest child. Ketdum prefers to be called Viet was born in Vientiane Laos in 1979. Her family took refuge in Thailand’s and Philippine’s refugee camps from 1980 to 1985. Ketdum and her family arrived in America in 1985 and she was raised in the Milwaukee Wisconsin. Ketdum graduated from Alverno College with a biology bachelor degree in 2000. Art, music, and poetry are some of the hobbies which Ketdum enjoys. Ketdum loves to travel and she traveled to New York, Hawaii, California, Florida, Virginia, Canada, London, Amsterdam, and Japan. Ketdum is working to be an excellent physician assistant and she hopes to start a health educational program for Southeast Asian residents in the inner city of Milwaukee.

Sarah Suarez was born and raised in Wabasha, MN. She now lives with her husband Manuel and son Guillermo in Holmen, Wi. She received her BA in Mathematics from St. Olaf College in 2000. In 2002 she received a Masters of Statistics from Iowa State University. Following graduation, Sarah worked for the USGS Environmental Science Center in La Crosse, Wi as a statistician. Sarah has been trained as an EMT – Basic and a Doula. She also worked in a small town clinic office throughout high school. In free time, Sarah enjoys gardening, creating stained glass and mosaic art, and playing volleyball.

Sean Thomas grew up in a small farming community in southern Iowa and received his BA in vocal music from Luther College in 1993. His interest in healthcare began as a therapeutic recreation assistant in a nursing facility and later with cardiac related research at the University of Minnesota. He and his wife enjoy traveling, outdoor recreation, the fine arts, architecture, and raising their five year old twins. Sean looks forward to practicing in Minnesota after graduation.