Who We Are
Come see what motivates us and the team of student leaders working to put MATCH UP's vision on the map!
What We Stand For
Engage, Empower, Elevate
Our Mission
Our mission is to use the tools of science and advocacy, create strategic partnerships, and leverage youth activism to improve the quality of maternal and child health (mental and physical) outcomes locally and globally.
Our Vision
Our vision is to empower women around the world to take charge of their own lives and support their efforts to achieve a life of dignity and security for them and their families.
Global Leadership
Founder, President
Rania Lateef
Rania Lateef is a Senior at Colgan High School, in Manassas, Virginia. She was inspired to found MATCH UP due to her passion for public health, psychology, and gender studies. During her travels to developing countries like India and Pakistan, Rania realized that girls and women in many parts of the world did not share her liberties and their limited access to health care
significantly impacted maternal and child health outcomes. Along with a group of her close friends, she was determined to bring about change in such communities, both in the U.S and internationally.
Rania was honored to receive the American Psychological Association and U.S Public Health Service award for her work on how mindset can influence future career choices in young women. She also serves as President of her school’s Science National Honor Society and Co-Editor-in-Chief of the Virginia Junior Academy of Science newsletter, Voice
VP Public Relations, Community Engagement
Zaib Zahir
Zaib Zahir is a Junior at The Flint Hill School. She is a young female who is very aware of global injustices, especially towards women. She is passionate about her south Asian ethnicity and strives to bring awareness about cultural identity to her peers. Zaib enjoys playing volleyball and off the court is an avid artist. At the studio Zaib likes to use pastels and ink to create visual representations of how she sees the world around us. She is a part of her Muslim girl scout troop where they work on projects bringing together young members of the community. Zaib is thrilled to be entering high school where she can help create change in today's society with her fellow classmates. Zaib is excited to be a part of MATCH-UP mainly for its focus on the
importance of women's health and medical treatment around the world.
VP Equity, Global Inclusion
Salma Sherdil
Salma Sherdil is a sophomore attending Colgan High School. At Colgan, Salma participates in several school clubs and sports such as SCA and the JV field hockey team. Outside of school, Salma is a part of the Meadowbrook Makos swim team. She has also been a part of the Apollo Gymnastics Xcel team since the age of 10, and is currently in the Platinum level. In addition to her school and athletic activities, Salma found her interest in public health while being surrounded by doctors and people in the health profession. Seeing these role models helping people throughout her life really gave her the passion and interest in the public and medical health profession.
Because of this, Salma has always had an interest in helping children as she wanted them to have similar opportunities as her. Salma is honored to be a part of Match-UP as she is eager to provide opportunities for all children and women worldwide.
VP Social Media, Communications
Charlie Roderick
Charlie Roderick is 17 years old and a Senior at Charles J. Colgan Sr. High School. Charlie enjoys playing the piano, playing Field Hockey, singing, and reading. She is in Colgan’s Chamber Choir. Charlie is a member of the Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints. Through her membership in the Church, she has been inspired to help with service projects such as sorting clothes for refugees, helping with yard work, planning an all-girls summer camp for younger girls, and helping on a farm. She has worked with adults with special needs, helping them with farm tasks and teaching them piano. Along with teaching piano to special needs adults, she also teaches elementary school kids.
Charlie grew up in a large family. She is the youngest of 6 children and has many nephews and nieces. She loves being around children. She is has loved, and continues to love being a part of Match Up because of the opportunities it gives her to serve her community.
VP Scientific Research, Public Health
Aerin Kim
Aerin Kim is a Senior at Charles J. Colgan High School in Manassas, VA. She has a great dedication for both academics and athletics. Aerin is a part of Colgan’s lacrosse and field hockey programs, while also balancing a rigorous course load. With a passion for STEAM, and having undergone 3 ACL reconstructive surgeries, she has picked up a keen interest in the practice of medicine and the health of those with physical, social, and economical disparities. Using her personal experiences, she hopes to be a voice for women and children, and an advocate to improve their lives.
VP Finance, Marketing
Quinn Ray
Quinn Ray is 17 years old and a Senior at Colgan high school. Throughout her life in Manassas, Virginia, she has seen that mothers and children in her community are fortunate enough to have the food, water, and daily amenities that they need and more. But Quinn realized that people across the world or even in different counties do not have this luxury and some struggle even for basic feminine hygiene supplies. Thus, Quinn was inspired to be a part of MATCH UP and she hopes to help the women and children in underserved communities. She also hopes to help improve the quality of education women receive and this can impact their future lives and access to better health care Quinn is a talented basketball and soccer player. In her free time, she also enjoys reading.
Advisory Board
Advisor
Maarya Akmal
Ms. Akmal received her degree in public health from Texas A&M University, while also conducting research on maternal and child health outcomes using obstetric records at St. Joseph’s Hospital. She
then joined the National Institutes of Health as an Intramural Research Trainee, where she is working on the Rhythms and Blues protocol at the National Institute of Mental Health. Ms. Akmal’s interest and
expertise in Global Health make she one of of MATCH UP’s key advisors especially with regards to our international outreach projects.
Advisor
Dr. David Parrish
Dr Parrish has been an educator in Prince William
County for 20 years. He is currently serving as Assistant Principal at Charles J Colgan High Schools and has graduate degrees in Special Education and Educational Leadership from George Mason University, and doctoral degree in Educational Leadership from The College of William and Mary. He currently supervises the Special Education, Health and Physical Education departments, and the Virginia Preschool Initiative (VPI). Dr. Parrish also sponsors of The FIN Friends, an organization that fosters inclusivity among all Colgan students and offers a safe space to students with disabilities.
MATCH UP is proud to partner with FIN Friends and welcomes Dr. Parrish’s guidance as we
frame our objectives and pursue our goals of promoting physical and mental health among
vulnerable youth populations.
Advisor
Dr. Rumana Kazmi
Dr. Kazmi is a board certified pediatrician who has been practicing medicine for over 45 years in Washington DC. Dr. Kazmi is particularly invested in providing care and support to mothers and young children from underserved communities and her clinic population includes several such families. Dr. Kazmi received her medical degree from Dacca Medical College in Bangladesh and is especially well versed in culturally sensitive care and best practices in promoting health among underserved communities.
MATCH UP is honored to have Dr. Kazmi as one of our chief advisors as we launch our Mom-and-Me wellness kits initiative for newborns and families of limited means.
Advisor
Dr. Rapp
Dr. David Rapp is the founder and president of Global Surgical Expedition (GSE), a non-profit organization that helps improve surgical care infrastructure around the world. GSE sends medical teams and equipment to underserved countries, with a large focus on improving female pelvic health and treating pregnancy-related pelvic disorders. He is a Professor of Urology and Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Virginia and has been participating in surgical outreach since his first trip to Honduras in 2000.
MATCH UP is honored to have Dr. Rapp on our Board of Advisors. His impressive experience carrying out GSE’s mission to improve women’s health and wellbeing, through life changing surgeries and treatments, provides MATCH UP more mentorship opportunities to serve and promote our own vision for improving maternal and child health outcomes.
Advisor
Bibhaw Pokharel
Mr. Bibhaw Pokharel's life journey epitomizes his dedication to improving global health and reducing healthcare disparities. Hailing from Nepal, he ventured to the United States for higher education, where he honed his expertise in public health, with a particular focus on environmental health hazards and environmental justice in vulnerable populations, through graduate training at Harvard TH. Chan School of Public Health and Georgetown University.
His impactful career includes serving as the global coordinator of the Ochimana Foundation, where he spearheaded a transformative project. Under his leadership, the foundation established a social enterprise and healthcare clinic in rural Nigeria, significantly reducing maternal and infant mortality, preventing polio resurgence, and enhancing overall health outcomes. Currently, Mr. Pokharel works at a pharmaceutical manufacturing company dedicated to innovating the cardiovascular space, striving to make life-saving drugs more affordable and safer. His journey from Nepal to the U.S. and his subsequent contributions in public health and pharmaceuticals stand as a testament to his profound impact on global healthcare.
MATCH up is honored to have Mr. Pokharel on our board as he provides much needed mentorship on maternal and child health programs in south Asia and Africa
- Michelle Obama
"Communities and countries and ultimately the world are only as strong as the health of their women."