Khartik Uppalapati, a junior from Oakton High School in Vienna, Virginia, channels his personal experience as a Black, Indigenous and person of color (BIPOC) individual living with a rare vascular condition into action for others like him. As president of the RareGen Youth Network, he leads a youth-focused movement working to dismantle the racial inequities that BIPOC rare disease (BIPOC-RD) patients face in healthcare. Khartik established eight RareGen chapters across Fairfax County, engaging more than 400 students to host workshops amplifying BIPOC voices. Through rare disease education, legislative efforts and awareness campaigns, RareGen has mobilized more than 10,000 people. Khartik has led advocacy efforts that helped pass 15 state senate resolutions across Maryland and Virginia, expanding access to life-saving treatments for under-resourced patients in BIPOC communities. Internationally, Khartik has established collaboration with Rare Diseases International, laying the blueprints for him to launch the BIPOC Disability Health Equity Initiative and develop the first global patient registry to track racial disparities in rare disease outcomes. Khartik has spearheaded the creation of a leadership training program for patient advocates that has equipped young leaders to expand the impact of RareGen at the grassroots level. He directs international policy at the Chanakya Initiative, which empowers Indigenous women through targeted financial literacy and career development programs. His work has reached more than 10,000 people and helped to create subject-matter experts across the Asia-Pacific region and North America. Khartik hopes to bridge leadership, patient advocacy and race relations to build a more equitable healthcare system.