We are a passionate group of students, driven by a powerful cause: organ donation advocacy. In 2019, Chirag Ram and Candice Medina decided to challenge the notion that students couldn't make a significant impact on society. Fueled by this belief, they embarked on a mission to prove that youthful determination knows no bounds.
Our Origins
Board members Chirag Ram and Candice Medina
From those early days, we've grown beyond our NYU origins, now encompassing a diverse array of students from universities across the country. Our shared dedication to the cause of organ donation advocacy unites us, transcending geographical boundaries and educational backgrounds. Today, ODAC has grown to span three branches in states across the nation: New York, Tennessee, and Nebraska.
Our Growth
New York Branch runs a tabling event in Washington Square Park
Our vision extends beyond state borders. We are committed to connecting with youth nationwide, engaging in conversations, and dispelling harmful myths about organ donation. We hope to foster understanding, provide accurate information, and create a society where organ donation is seen as the fairest, most equitable system.
Our Next Steps
Tennessee Branch hosts a transplant trivia night at Vanderbilt
Our Current Branches
Meet Our National Board of Directors
Chirag co-founded ODAC in 2018 and his passion for organ donor education and advocacy has only grown since then. He hopes to continue reducing inequities faced by those in need of an organ transplant and bridge the gaps in the current organ allocation system, none of which can be done without increased organ donor registration. He is currently a resident physician at WashU in St. Louis, where his training includes transplant surgery.
Alex Fraser joined ODAC in 2020 as one of its first members and served as executive director of its New York branch from 2022 to 2023. A lifelong New Yorker, Alex is passionate about community organizing and has worked to improve services and empower others through education and awareness initiatives in his hometown. In addition to his work with ODAC, Alex has experience in the governmental and political sectors and currently serves as a chief of staff in the New York State Assembly. He holds a BA from McGill University.
Diya is a current MPH student at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health studying infectious disease epidemiology. She is a recent graduate of NYU where she studied global public health, biology, and chemistry. Diya joined ODAC in January 2021 and hopes to work towards addressing unfair prioritization practices within the organ transplant allocation program to make the system more equitable for disenfranchised groups that suffer from disproportionately lower transplantation rates.
Candice is a postbacc premedical student at Harvard University. She completed her undergraduate degree at New York University, where she studied cognitive neuroscience, and earned her graduate degree in epidemiology from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. As an epidemiologist, her research focuses on healthcare disparities and inequities affecting underserved and minority communities. She has conducted community health and infectious disease work in low-resource settings in Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, and Sri Lanka. Motivated by a commitment to advancing equity in healthcare access, she hopes to become a physician dedicated to improving community and population health both in the U.S. and globally. As co-founder and CFO, she started ODAC in part to help address inequities in access to organ transplantation among marginalized groups.