Updated: 3 hours ago
The Montgomery News | June 4, 2025
In a banner year for Montgomery Emergency Medical Services (MEMS), eight current and former members of the all-volunteer squad are heading to medical school — a record-setting milestone that highlights not only the organization’s commitment to outstanding patient care but also its success in developing future leaders.
From left: Saahith Potluri, Vaughn Hernandez, and Rishika Vutla.
The eight future physicians (see photographs below) include, in alphabetical order, Vaughn Hernandez (Case Western Reserve University), Kavya Kannan (Baylor College of Medicine), Carolyn Maslanka (Georgetown University), Nia Melvin (Thomas Jefferson University), Neena O’Mara (Vanderbilt University), Saahith Potluri (Johns Hopkins University), and Tharun Potluri (Georgetown University). One member has chosen to remain anonymous.
This achievement comes as MEMS celebrates being named the EMS Council of New Jersey’s Squad of the Year, a recognition of the squad’s excellence in emergency response, training, and community service. MEMS leaders, however, say the award is only part of the story.
“We not only provide high-quality patient care completely free to our residents,” said Siddharth Saran, President of Montgomery EMS, “but we also enable our members— especially our cadets—to be successful far beyond the walls of the ambulance building. We think of ourselves as a teaching squad, the way some hospitals are teaching hospitals.”
MEMS’s cadet program is both rigorous and competitive. Open to high school sophomores from Montgomery and nearby towns, the program receives five to seven applications for every available spot. Cadets commit to a minimum of 20 hours per month, though most exceed that, often working until 11 p.m., even on school nights.
“Cadets aren’t just learning to care for patients—they’re growing into dependable, disciplined individuals,” said Louis Dundi, Captain of Montgomery EMS. “By taking on real responsibilities like helping maintain the building, filling oxygen tanks, showing up consistently for duty, and representing our squad in public-facing events, they’re building more than skills—they’re building character. It’s that personal growth and maturity that truly sets them up for success, both in and beyond the squad.”
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For many, the MEMS experience goes beyond skill-building.
“MEMS was my first glimpse into the world of medicine — not through textbooks, but through people,” said Tharun Potluri. “Every call revealed the impact that compassionate care can have. It was in those moments of caring for patients at their most vulnerable that I realized I wanted to pursue a career in medicine.”
Read related story >>Montgomery Emergency Medical Services members Tharun and Saahith Potluri won an all-wheel-drive 2022 Land Rover Defender, valued at about $50,000, for Squad 47.
Kavya Kannan said, “MEMS was my first exposure to the field of healthcare. Being able to support my community during emergencies and working with our crew to ensure we took the best care of our patients was deeply meaningful to me.”
Carolyn Maslanka said, “MEMS gave me the confidence to pursue medicine. It helped me grow as a leader and confirmed this is the right career path for me. I’m so grateful for everything I learned and for the community that supported me.”
Saahith Potluri said, “Every member at MEMS, whether they’re a physician or someone in an entirely different profession, is equally dedicated to patient care and to making a difference. That taught me that medicine, at its core, is just neighbors helping neighbors.”
Neena O’Mara said, “My crew mates became clinical teachers, friends, and mentors. The community at MEMS is something I’ll always carry with me.”
While most of the medical school-bound members began as cadets in high school, not all followed that path. Some joined while in college or during gap years.
Vaughn Hernandez said, “I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to work alongside such dedicated people while helping the Montgomery community. The lessons I learned at MEMS will continue to support me as I begin this next chapter.”
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The preparation members receive is extensive. In just this year, MEMS held training drills on vehicle extrication with the fire department, participated in a mass casualty scenario, conducted equipment drills with stretchers and stair chairs, and organized a field trip to the county 911 communications center.
“It’s about more than medical skills,” said Prasad Potluri, a cadet advisor and the squad’s training officer. “We teach cadets to lead through service, to take initiative, and to stay calm under pressure. These lessons stay with them throughout their life.”
Cadets who turn 18 often become adult members and continue serving with the squad during college breaks. Some, like students attending Rutgers, remain active year-round, balancing their academic work with their dedication to service.
With eight of its own soon to don white coats, Montgomery EMS continues to show that it’s not just saving lives—it’s shaping them.
