Alumni

Lauren Yamauchi, B.S.
2023-2024 Program Coordinator

Lauren Yamauchi is a spring 2024 graduate earning her B.S. in Biological Sciences with Honors in Biological Sciences and Magna Cum Laude. She spent 2 years in EMRAP as CADSI/TCASI liaison. She also served as the secretary and program coordinator. Since graduating, Lauren has continued her work as an experience emergency medicine scribe and started at Nordstrom’s fulfillment team. Lauren will attend medical school in fall 2025 with hopes to practice inpatient medicine in California. In her free time, Lauren enjoys indoor cycling, shopping, and reading. 

Natalie Van Gilder, B.S.
2023-2024 Academic Coordinator

Natalie Van Gilder is a former Academic Coordinator and the first Carotid Pulse Check Study Liaison. As an Academic Coordinator, she organized workshops and guest speaker events, mentoring research associates and enriching their academic experiences.

In her role as Carotid Pulse Check Study Liaison, Natalie helped advance research on using carotid ultrasound in CPR, a promising method to improve the accuracy and efficiency of pulse checks during resuscitation efforts. Her leadership extended to roles as Ultrasound Coordinator, Training Coordinator, and Social Coordinator, where she fostered collaboration and community within EMRAP.

Currently in her gap years, Natalie is studying for the MCAT and preparing for medical school. Reflecting on her experience, she shares, “EMRAP is truly what you make of it—the perfect place for people passionate about medicine, helping others, and supporting one another.”

Eisa Razzak, B.A.
MS2, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University

Eisa Razzak is a current medical student and graduated from UCI with a degree in political science. During this time, he spent two years as an EMRAPer. In his final year, he led as a Program Coordinator, and attributes much of his research success to the skills he gained in EMRAP. Among all the opportunities that EMRAP provided, he explains that mentorship had the greatest impact. By being taken under the wings of Dr. Chakravarthy and Dr. Saadat, he was able to delve deeper into the world of medicine through the guidance of his mentors.

Eisa wrote, “EMRAP played a pivotal role in helping me understand the ins and outs of research. Because of this, I was able to hit the ground running when starting medical school.”

Nathan Nguyen, B.S.
MS1, University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine

Nathan Nguyen is a proud alumnus of the EMRAP program (2021–2023) and a current MD candidate at the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine. During his time in EMRAP, Nathan led the Wrist Fracture Study, which investigated the over-prescription of common opioids in the emergency department at UCI Medical Center. In his gap year before medical school, he served as a pediatric critical care EMT at Children’s Hospital of Orange County, where he gained hands-on experience providing high-stakes care to young patients. Nathan’s current career interests include ophthalmology, cardiology, and emergency medicine. In his free time, he likes to play basketball, run, and explore new restaurants in San Francisco. Nathan writes, “EMRAP was an invaluable experience that not only sharpened my research skills but also helped shape my clinical and academic journey in medical school and beyond.”

Isaac Mora, B.S.
MS1, University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine

Isaac Mora is an EMRAP alumnus from the 2022-2023 academic year and a current MD candidate at the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, with an expected graduation in 2028. During his time at EMRAP, Isaac was the co-lead liaison for the Food Insecurity study, which explored the prevalence and health impacts of food insecurity among emergency department patients. Through EMRAP, Isaac built meaningful professional relationships, including with program director Dr. Bharath Chakravarthy, whose mentorship greatly influenced his approach to research and patient care and solidified his passion for medicine.

Reflecting on his experience, Isaac shared: “EMRAP provided invaluable opportunities to understand the broader social factors affecting health. Collaborating with leaders like Dr. Chakravarthy and working on projects like the Food Insecurity study deepened my dedication to bridging gaps in healthcare access. EMRAP was a highlight of my undergraduate experience and key to getting to where I am today.”

In his free time, Isaac enjoys playing soccer and weightlifting. Isaac is interested in pursuing Emergency Medicine or Orthopedic Surgery as a specialty.

George Mina, B.S.
MS4, University of California, Irvine School of Medicine

George Minaserved as the Liaison for the Ultrasound STEMI Study, presenting an abstract on the use of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) to detect heart attack-related wall motion abnormalities. His work contributed to advancing methods for rapid heart attack diagnosis in emergency settings.

After graduating in 2020, George gained hands-on clinical experience as a medical assistant during his gap year before returning to UCI for medical school. Now a 4th-year medical student applying into anesthesiology, George continues to build on the foundation EMRAP provided. Outside of the hospital, he enjoys trying new foods and playing pickleball.

Christine Louis, B.S.
MS4, University of California, Irvine School of Medicine

Christine Louis is a former Academic Coordinator of the EMRAP program at UCI, where she led numerous research projects and co-authored several publications. During her time in EMRAP (2017–2019), she was a presenting author for 10/13 oral presentations and 3 poster presentations at local and national conferences, and she served as a Study Liaison for projects on liver ultrasonography and emergency department patient satisfaction.

After graduating in 2019, Christine worked as the Publishing Director for WestJEM during her gap years before starting medical school at UCI in 2021. Now a 4th-year medical student applying into anesthesiology, she reflects fondly on the lifelong connections she built through EMRAP, including her best friend and classmate, Maria Nguyen. She’s also proud to share her medical school journey with fellow EMRAP alumni Nick Gossett, Michelle Nguyen, and George Mina.

Ghadi Ghanem, M.D.
PGY-1, Internal Medicine Resident

Dr. Ghadi Ghanem is a proud alumnus of the EMRAP program at UCI, where he served as Study Coordinator for the TCASI study and contributed to numerous impactful research projects. During his time in EMRAP (2017–2019), Ghadi co-authored four publications, including studies on alcohol use in trauma patients, opioid prescribing patterns, and innovative uses of point-of-care ultrasound.

After graduating from UCI, Dr. Ghanem pursued medical school at UCLA, where he is currently completing a residency in Internal Medicine. His work continues to reflect the strong research foundation he developed during his time in EMRAP, advancing understanding in emergency and trauma care.