About Teah Charkawi

Teah Charkawi is the founder of The Retroperitoneal Fibrosis Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness, building community, and supporting research for Retroperitoneal Fibrosis (RPF), a rare and often misunderstood disease.

Teah’s connection to the cause is deeply personal, as her father was diagnosed with RPF after years of unexplained pain, countless misdiagnoses, and a long, uncertain search for answers. During that time, her family felt lost, desperately seeking clarity while the clock kept ticking. With every wrong diagnosis and every passing day, her father’s organs continued to deteriorate, and the emotional toll on their family grew heavier. It wasn’t until he was seen by a specialist at the Mayo Clinic, Dr. Koster, that they finally received an accurate diagnosis.

After this diagnosis, Teah searched for information and guidance online and found almost nothing: no foundation, no hub of support, and very little research—just a Facebook group for RPF patients. This absence inspired her to create the thing she wished had existed for her family.

Through The Retroperitoneal Fibrosis Foundation, Teah hopes to raise awareness for RPF, build a reliable and welcoming community for those affected, and raise funds to support desperately needed research.

A current 11th grade student at Pace Academy, Teah is passionate about medicine, especially psychology and neurology. After seeing how RPF impacted not just her father’s body but his mental and emotional health—as well as the emotional strain it placed on the entire family—her interest in the psychological side of illness has only deepened.

Teah believes that no one should feel isolated when surrounded by others facing the same challenges. By expanding the foundation and shedding light on these struggles, she hopes RPF patients and their families can find answers, support, and a sense of community.