Disruptors in Health and Well-Being: Philanthropist Alice Walton and Founding Dean & CEO, Dr. Sharmila Makhija

In celebration of International Women’s History Month, we recognize the contributions of two inspiring leaders in the health and medical space.

In 2011, Alice Walton founded Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, an admission-free institution in Bentonville, Arkansas. The museum has transformed the art world by expanding access for millions of people, creating more jobs and a better quality of life for art patrons in communities all over the country. See the full bio for Alice Walton.

Research is catching up to what Walton has always known— art can improve well-being. One of her favorite books, “Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us” by Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross, outlines evidence that art can work with traditional medicine to improve health outcomes.

Though Alice Walton may be best known for her contributions to the art world, in recent years she has committed to improving health care, inspired by her own first-hand health care experience, the knowledge that the arts and the humanities can enhance well-being, as well as the low state and national rankings in overall health.  She saw an opportunity to improve the way medical education is taught and health care is delivered, and thus founded Heartland Whole Health Institute and Alice L. Walton School of Medicine.   The Institute and the School of Medicine are separate nonprofit organizations based in Northwest Arkansas, with one founder and a shared mission of bridging the gaps to better health, together. The Institute is focused on improving health care delivery with health system partners, policymakers, and the community, while the School will create a pipeline of physicians

 “By bridging mental, physical, social, and emotional health, we can create a truly thriving system for our region and the world.” -Alice Walton

A New Medical School: A Groundbreaking Approach

The vision to improve health outcomes starts with training the next generation of physicians. Pending accreditation, Alice L. Walton School of Medicine will offer a 4-year MD program that enhances traditional medicine with the arts, humanities, and whole health principles. The curriculum will build on foundational sciences and clinical practices to consider a person’s physical, mental, social, and emotional well-being.

The School’s 154,000 square-foot building and 14 acres of Ozark green space will provide an inspiring learning environment with outdoor classrooms, hiking and biking trails, healing gardens, and the largest green roof in the region. Just as the arts can enhance learning, nature can also play a powerful role in improving well-being and is an important element of the School’s building design and philosophies.

The construction of the medical education facility is currently underway in Bentonville, Arkansas, near Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and Heartland Whole Health Institute. Creating a unified campus experience, these organizations will bring together nature, art, innovation, and well-being for students and the entire community.

As a new medical school, there is a commitment to training medical students with cutting-edge technology that augments the doctor-patient relationship, so they have more time to care for their patients’ physical, mental, social, and emotional health. This includes:

• A state-of-the art simulation center
• An array of tools such as full-body manikins, computerized models, and extended reality (XR) systems
• 3D printing, artificial intelligence, and ambient AI for real-time dictation and reporting

Founding Dean & CEO

Sharmila Makhija, MD, MBA, was appointed as the Founding Dean and CEO of Alice L. Walton School of Medicine in 2023. Dr. Makhija brings a dedication to medical education and her experience as a clinician, administrator, and successful businesswoman. A surgeon and women’s health expert, Dr. Makhija was previously the Department Chair of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Women’s Health and Professor at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Health System in New York. See the full bio for Dr. Makhija.

Dr. Makhija is helping shape the School of Medicine’s vision and culture. She is committed to advancing medical education with a focus on serving the communities of Arkansas and beyond. As a woman of South Asian descent who grew up in the South, Dr. Makhija is sensitive to the challenges underrepresented groups face in medicine and is determined to make sure new generations of doctors have the tools and support they need to thrive. For example, the School of Medicine will embrace self-care with offerings such as 1:1 health coaching to reduce burnout for medical students, as well as staff and faculty.

Pending accreditation, the School will welcome the first class of 48 students in 2025.

“The opportunity to build a medical school from the ground up, with the vision of philanthropist Alice Walton, is a dream come true. Training doctors of the future, within a culture of inclusivity, is central to that transformation. Our goal is to build a new medical school and to be a leader in improving health and well-being for families and communities.” -Dr. Sharmila Makhija