Sharmila Makhija

Last updated
Sharmila Makhija
Born
Education M.D., EMBA
Alma mater Cornell University, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Goizueta Business School at Emory University
Occupation(s)University dean and chief executive officer of Alice L. Walton School of Medicine
Known for Women's health and gynecologic oncology
Board member of Every Mother Counts, Clinical Leadership Committee of the American Hospital Association

Sharmila Makhija is a surgeon specializing in women's health and gynecologic oncology. She is the university dean and chief executive officer of Alice L. Walton School of Medicine in Bentonville, Arkansas.

Contents

Early life and education

Makhija is a native of Montgomery, Alabama. [1] Her father was a college chemistry professor, her mother was a high school biology teacher, and her grandfather was a surgeon and general practitioner in India. [1] At the age of 9, Makhija declared she would be a doctor. [1]

Makhija received her Bachelor of Arts in chemistry at Cornell University in 1988. [1] She then completed her medical degree in 1992 from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). [1] In 1996, she completed her residency at the University of Louisville Hospital for obstetrics and gynecology. [1] She then completed a gynecologic oncology fellowship at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in 1999. [1]

In 2011, Makhija received her Executive Master of Business Administration from Goizueta Business School at Emory University. [1] She worked on her studies while she was director of gynecologic oncology at Emory. [2]

Career

Makhija is a surgeon and considered an international expert on gynecologic cancer. [3] She is an associate editor-in-chief of the Journal of American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin. [3] [4]

Higher education

Makhija has been a faculty member of University of Pittsburgh (Pitt), University of Louisville (UofL), UAB, and Emory. [5] She was a Women’s Reproductive Health Research Scholar at both Pitt and UAB [3] and held an endowed chair position at Emory. She was also department chair and held endowed chair positions at the UofL School of Medicine and Albert Einstein College of Medicine. [1] At Emory, Makhija was also the division chief of gynecologic oncology and a distinguished cancer scholar of the Georgia Cancer Coalition. [1] While at University of Louisville School of Medicine, Makhija was the chief medical operations officer for the Center for Women and Infants. [1]

Makhija was appointed as the founding university dean and chief executive officer of Alice L. Walton School of Medicine in 2023. [6]

Board service and recognition

Makhija is the impact committee chair of Every Mother Counts. [7] She has served on various boards, including the Clinical Leadership Committee of the American Hospital Association, [3] GigCapital5, [8] and the Graduate Medical Education Residency Expansion Board. [9]

She received the Albert Einstein College of Medicine’s Reproductive Health Spirit of Achievement. [3] She also received the Argus Teaching Award from the UAB medical school [10] and was called a "humanitarian hero" by Good Housekeeping. [3]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Gatling, Paul (6 March 2023). "Next stop Arkansas for 'true Southerner' Sharmila Makhija". Talk Business & Politics. Retrieved 24 June 2025.
  2. "Ten Questions - Sharmila Makhija". Financial Times. 15 November 2011. Retrieved 24 June 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Gatling, Paul (14 February 2023). "Walton School of Medicine in Bentonville announces founding dean, CEO". KUAR. Retrieved 24 June 2025.
  4. "Journal of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin" (PDF). Journal of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin. 4 (Spring & Summer 2024): 4. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  5. Gillette, Becky (15 August 2023). "A Different Diagnosis: Walton Medical School to Apply Holistic Approach". Arkansas Money and Politics. Retrieved 24 June 2025.
  6. "Walton School of Medicine Appoints New Founding Dean, CEO". Arkansas Money and Politics. 13 February 2023. Retrieved 24 June 2025.
  7. "Sharmila Makhija: Notable Healthcare Leaders 2022". Crain's New York Business. 12 August 2022. Archived from the original on 24 Aug 2022. Retrieved 24 June 2025.
  8. "Dr. Sharmila Makhija Joins GigCapital5 Board of Directors – GigCapital". gigcapitalglobal.com. GigCapital5. 6 January 2022. Retrieved 24 June 2025.
  9. "Arkansas Department of Higher Education - About - GMERE Board". adhe.edu. Arkansas Division of Higher Education. Retrieved 24 June 2025.
  10. Piana, Ronald Piana (3 June 2024). "For an International Expert in Gynecologic Cancer, Being Reared by Educators Who Stressed Knowledge and Service Was Key". The ASCO Post. Retrieved 24 June 2025.