Mahek Patel

Mahek Patel is a rising junior at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) majoring in Bioinformatics with a concentration in Biological and Genomic Sciences on the pre-dental track. As a first-generation college student aspiring to become an orthodontist, she is passionate about improving oral health through compassionate patient care, research, and community service.

Inspired by the impact of organ donation and transplantation, Mahek serves as Advocacy Chair for VCU's Student Organ Donation Advocates (SODA) chapter and as a National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) Student Lead, where she organizes educational events and donor registration drives to increase awareness and save lives.

Outside of advocacy, Mahek conducts oral health research at VCU School of Dentistry, serves as a teaching assistant and Honors mentor, and is actively involved in several organizations focused on healthcare and leadership. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, playing pickleball, learning new languages, and connecting with people from diverse backgrounds.

In 2026, Mahek joined SODA's National as the Student Engagement Intern. She is excited to collaborate with chapters nationwide to expand organ donation advocacy and support SODA's mission.