The People Behind the Mission
About the Founders
Meet the passionate young leaders who started YouthCare Connect and are driving its mission forward.
Our Story
How YouthCare Connect Began
YouthCare Connect was founded by students who witnessed firsthand the gap between healthcare and compassion — and decided to do something about it. What started as a small comfort kit drive grew into a full nonprofit dedicated to empowering youth, educating communities, and humanizing healthcare for everyone.
Leadership
Meet the Team
Adhya Balaji
Co-Founder & President
Adhya Balaji, a high schooler at Bridgewater Raritan High School, co-founded the non-profit organization YouthCare Connect in her freshman year. She aims to spread the message of keeping medicine humane, especially in a time where artificial intelligence threatens to take over parts of the medical field. Writing to her is a way of expressing her beliefs and impacting others. When she isn’t working on YouthCare Connect, Adhya enjoys reading leisurely, editing her novel, singing, and playing the violin.
Gavin Ng
Co-President
Gavin Ng, a high schooler at Bridgewater Raritan High School in his sophomore year. Currently he is a legal intern at a pharmaceutical company in New Jersey. In his free time he enjoys writing, reading, running, and tutoring. He is a currently involved in mock trial, yearbook, and choir. He would like to help YouthCare connect grow and teach others about medicine.
Kaavya Bajaj
Co-Founder & Vice President
Kaavya Bajaj, who is a high schooler at Bridgewater Raritan Highschool, co-founded the non-profit organization YouthCare Connect in her freshman year. Kaavya wants to make an impact on patients and students in her community through education and care. To her, hands on attention and care is one of the most impactful ways of expressing ideas and emotions. Away from YouthCare Connect, Kaavya spends her time dancing competitively, socializing with friends, and studying leisurely.
Mohamed Samy Saafan
Editor-In-Chief
Mohamed Samy Saafan is a third-year medical student at Mansoura University Faculty of Medicine in Egypt and a blog writer at YouthCare Connect. He has a strong interest in cardiothoracic surgery and is actively involved in clinical training and medical research, particularly in cardiovascular topics. Mohamed has obtained certifications from institutions including Johns Hopkins University and Harvard University. He is also a medical student member of the American College of Surgeons, the American College of Cardiology, and the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.
Emily Thai
Social Media Manager
Emily Thai, a high schooler at Bridgewater Raritan High School, is the social media manager of YouthCare Connect. She is motivated to help grow the organization and spread awareness about humanity in medicine. Outside of YouthCare Connect, she enjoys singing, writing, reading, playing piano, and hanging out with friends.
Lesandu Wickramasinghe
Intern Blog Writer
Lesandu Wickramasinghe, who is a high school junior from Edison, NJ, has a strong interest in technology and writing. He enjoys writing articles and expressing ideas through his work. Outside of YouthCare Connect, he likes playing cricket, working out, and exploring how AI is shaping the world.
Simrah Chhipa
Intern Blog Writer
Simrah Chhipa, a freshman at Noor-Ul-Iman School in Monmouth Junction, NJ, is a blog writer at YouthCare Connect. She has a strong passion for biology and healthcare-related studies. She hopes to one day study oncology and cancer research to make a meaningful impact in the medical field. She is a dedicated honors student who enjoys learning, writing, reading, and challenging herself academically. Outside of school, Simrah loves playing and watching soccer and basketball, as well as spending time with her friends and family. Through her writing, she hopes to raise awareness about issues in healthcare today and inspire others to create positive change in their communities.
Rachel Prince
Intern Blog Writer
Rachel Prince, a freshman at South Brunswick High School, is a blog writer at YouthCare Connect. She has had a strong passion for anatomy since elementary school and hopes to become a neurologist, to make an impact and become a pioneer in the medical field. Through her writing, she hopes to be able to inspire others about the field of medicine and how it’s constantly changing. Outside of school, Rachel enjoys dancing and playing her violin, and singing.
Tony Chavez
Intern Blog Writer
Tony Chavez is a Weiss High School student with a strong interest in environmental sustainability, community health, and youth advocacy. Whether it’s blog writing for YouthCare Connect or his volunteer work with children and animal shelters, he is deeply passionate about bringing communities together and creating meaningful social impact. When he isn’t writing for YouthCare Connect, Tony enjoys drawing little doodles, painting, and playing the guitar.
Nysy Fabian
Intern Blog Writer
Nysy Fabian is a high school junior from Bethlehem, PA, with a strong interest in language learning, biotechnology, and information technology. At YouthCare Connect, she works as an Intern Blog Writer, expressing ideas through writing. She also provides English tutoring and translates math lessons from English to Spanish to support accessible learning. She enjoys exploring how communication, science, and technology connect to improve everyday life.
Maryam Waheed
Intern Blog Writer
Maryam Waheed is an upcoming senior at Mexico High School in Mexico, Missouri. She has a passion for medicine and neuroscience. She enjoys educating people on issues she deeply cares about. She enjoys exercising and spending time with her friends and family.
Aanya Kumbhani
Intern Blog Writer
Aanya Kumbhani is a sophomore at Central Jersey College Prep, and a blog writer at YouthCare Connect. She is deeply passionate about biology, healthcare, and medical ethics, with aspirations of becoming a surgeon and contributing to advancements in patient care. Aanya enjoys exploring complex scientific topics and examining the social and ethical challenges that shape modern healthcare. Beyond academics, she is actively involved in student leadership and community service through organizations including The Factor Foundation, HOSA, and her local Youth Council, where she promotes education, advocacy, and meaningful community engagement. In her free time, she enjoys reading, traveling, and following Formula 1. Through her writing, Aanya aims to educate readers about important healthcare issues, encourage thoughtful discussions, and inspire others to create positive change in their communities.
What We Stand For
Our Core Values
Compassion
We put humanity at the heart of everything we do.
Education
We empower communities through knowledge and health literacy.
Service
We lead with action, showing up for those who need it most.
Community
We grow by lifting each other and building lasting partnerships.
