Ria Mohan

Ria’s journey into organ donation advocacy was one rooted in familial strength and love. From a young age, she watched her aunt endure the relentless toll of kidney failure. Her aunt struggled through exhausting dialysis treatments twice a week for 7 years while continuing to work as a teacher in India. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, her aunt’s fragile health deteriorated further, leaving Ria’s parents desperately searching for hospitals in India that could provide care. The helplessness of those nights—watching her mother make frantic calls, fearing the worst—left an indelible mark on Ria’s heart.

But amid these hardships came a profound moment of hope: her uncle was a match and able to donate his kidney to his sister. Witnessing firsthand the life-saving power of organ donation transformed Ria’s grief into determination—no family should have to endure the uncertainty and suffering her aunt faced.

Motivated to take action, Ria became a Certified Organ Donation Ambassador through the MOHAN (Multi Organ Harvesting Aid Network) Foundation, working closely with leaders to spread awareness. One of the highlights of her advocacy was participating in the Seattle screening of Aye Zindagi, a film that tells the true story of a life-saving liver transplant, reinforcing the importance of her mission.

Determined to continue making an impact, Ria founded a SODA chapter at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in 2024, where she now serves as president. She is endlessly grateful for the supportive campus community that shares her passion for organ donation advocacy—ensuring that more families can experience the same second chance at life that hers did.

Ria is currently a BS/MD forensics student at VCU aiming to become a physician and paying forward the compassion that so many healthcare professionals have shown toward her family.