The Lie That Held A Generation Of Women Back - Dr. Veronica Mallett

In this episode of Inspiring Women, Laurie McGraw speaks with Dr. Veronica Mallett, a physician, educator, and trailblazer with four decades of experience advancing health equity and workforce representation in American medicine.

Dr. Mallett is Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of the More in Common Alliance, a 10-year, $100 million partnership between Morehouse School of Medicine and CommonSpirit Health created to expand representation in medicine and close the physician shortage in underserved communities.

Dr. Mallett shares the story behind her drive, growing up in Detroit as the daughter of two educators and civil rights leaders, who taught her that education was "the great leveler" and that having a principle means being prepared to stand alone. She talks about deciding at age 9 to become a doctor, navigating Barnard College and medical training as one of very few women of color in the room, and learning to turn individual setbacks into collective action.

In this conversation, Dr. Mallett discusses:

- Why the More in Common Alliance is doubling the class size at Morehouse School of Medicine and building regional medical campuses and graduate medical education sites in underserved areas

- The work happening in communities like Bakersfield and Kern County, California — one of the most medically underserved regions in the state

- Why she believes the promise that women "can have it all" was a myth, and what to build instead: a real support system and intentional choices

- Her case for leaning into leadership roles — and how the autonomy that comes with them benefits your family, not just your career

- Managing a blended family of six children, and what work-life balance actually means in practice

- Overcoming imposter syndrome at every level, and the mantra her sister gave her: "Who I am is enough"

Dr. Mallett previously served as Senior Vice President of Health Affairs and Dean of the School of Medicine at Meharry Medical College, and as President and CEO of Meharry Medical College Ventures. Earlier in her career she helped launch a new medical school at Texas Tech University in El Paso. She is board certified in obstetrics and gynecology and in female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery, earned her medical degree at Michigan State University, and holds a master's in Medical Management from Carnegie Mellon University.

Inspiring Women, hosted by Laurie McGraw, features candid conversations with women leaders about the choices, setbacks, and turning points behind their careers.

Full conversation with Dr. Veronica Mallett on Inspiring Women.