Sharmila Makhija

Sharmila Makhija, founding dean and CEO of the Alice L. Walton School of Medicine, is redesigning medical training to blend clinical skills with the arts, humanities, and whole-health care. She discusses shortening training, tackling rural physician shortages with targeted recruitment and tuition incentives, and building a wellness-focused campus culture that prepares future clinicians for a changing healthcare landscape.

Meryam Sugulle, an obstetrician and researcher, discusses the critical link between pregnancy complications and long-term cardiovascular risks in women. She emphasizes a simple screening question that could revolutionize early detection. Sharmila Makhija, a gynecologic oncologist and medical education leader, joins the conversation to talk about advancing women's reproductive health. They highlight the importance of the placenta and advocate for systemic changes to enhance women's health and well-being through better education and compassionate care.