Meet The Team
Co-Founders/Co-Presidents
Raphia Rahman
Raphia Rahman is the co-founder and President of HEART of Newark. She completed her B.A. in Biology and Master of Biomedical Sciences at Rutgers University in Newark and is currently a medical student at Rowan School of Osteopathic Medicine. She was inspired to establish this student-led charity organization with fellow medical student Hira Ghani due to her roots in Newark, NJ. She felt the need to give back to the community, as her experiences in the city of Newark helped to influence her decision to pursue a career in medicine. She aspires to become a Neurosurgeon and has clinical and research interests in Neuroscience, Global Neurosurgery, and Pediatric Neurosurgery. She also enjoys playing the piano, singing, meditating, and spending time with family and friends.
Community Outreach Chair
Ridhimma Issar
I am Riddhima, a second year medical student at RowanSOM and I am the Community Service Chair for Heart of Newark. I hope to be a part of a small change in the Newark community and provide the best access to healthcare and a safe environment alongside all the members in this team.
Fundraising Chair
Aakhila Rameeza
Hi everyone! My name is Aakhila. I’m the fundraising chair of HEART of Newark. I help organize fundraisers and donation collections. I’m excited to work with my colleagues to help bridge the gap of healthcare inequality in one of the most underserved communities in NJ.
​
More about me:
I’m a third year medical student at RowanSOM and an aspiring gastroenterologist. In my free time, I like to explore new restaurants, bake cakes, and dance.
Hira Ghani
Hello Everyone! This is Hira Ghani, a 3rd year medical student from NYITCOM, NY. I did my undergraduate in psychology and biology from Rutgers University in NJ. I extensively worked with the underprivileged population of Newark as an undergraduate at Rutgers, and my belief in propagating equality and justice in healthcare and education prompted me to form this organization. I aspire to be a dermatologist as she has always been into practicing and spreading awareness about skincare. In her free time, I enjoy Zumba dancing, experimenting with nutritious and healthy recipes, photography, writing, and watching Netflix while sipping on my latte
Secretary
Zubia S.
Hi Everyone! I am Zubia Sagarwala. I am a 2nd year medical student at NYITCOM (Class of 2023!)
​
Specialty of interest: I am still exploring what specialty I like, but my heart is pretty set on Cardiology (Pun intended!)
Hobbies: Cooking, writing poetry
Fun Fact: I can eat Pecan pie anytime, any season, I am obsessed!
Media Chair
Tarun Kotrike
Hello! My name is Tarun Kotrike and I am a junior at Rutgers University, majoring finance and on the pre-med track. During quarantine I developed a passion for drawing and love to play basketball. I hope to combine business and healthcare in the future.
Campus Representatives
Santhoshi Supriya Kotrike
Rowan SOM Class of 2022
Rowan SOM Campus Representative
Interested in EM and Neurology
Fun fact: I’m a triple threat in the arts: I can sing, dance and paint!
Tarun Kotrike
Hello! My name is Tarun Kotrike and I am a junior at Rutgers University, majoring finance and on the pre-med track. During quarantine I developed a passion for drawing and love to play basketball. I hope to combine business and healthcare in the future.