Dr. Jaya McSharma: Physician, Actress, Entrepreneur, Activist

SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – If there is one word to describe Dr. Jaya McSharma, it’s authentic. She has embraced her diverse passions to make a living as a doctor specializing in wellness and personalized functional medicine, as an award-winning actress and filmmaker, and as an entrepreneur.

“The advice I would give any woman is to be who you are, not who they want you to be,” said Dr. Jaya. “I am this socially awkward Indian. I was raised in Central Louisiana, a Hindu girl who went to Catholic school and Baptist college. I’ve always been a fish out of water, so why not embrace that and make that my strength.”

Those experiences have not only given her strength to live a highly curated life, but to also create social change. Dr. Jaya founded Lady Doctors of Shreveport Bossier to support women in business and healthcare. She supported the Black Lives Matter movement and works as medical director of The Philadelphia Center, Northwest Louisiana’s HIV/AIDS resource center.

“If I don’t speak authentically or I don’t speak what’s in my heart, it becomes a poison festering in my mind and in my body,” she shared.

Her courage to be authentic is in her DNA.

“My maternal grandfather was actually a freedom fighter for Indian independence back in the 1930s and 40s, actually both of my grandparents,” Dr. Jaya said. “I can’t imagine the courage it takes to rise up against an oppressive dictatorship which is what they saw from Great Britain.”

Longtime friend Judy Williams nominated Dr. Jaya for the Remarkable Women of the ArkLaTex contest.

“She truly lives her life out loud. She shows everything. If she’s sad, you know it. If she’s happy, you know it,” Williams explained. “And, as a woman, I particularly appreciate that because her vulnerability translates to other people.”

Williams has watched with admiration as Dr. Jaya has helped usher in a new dynamic in the workplace.

“When we were in the workplace we were encouraged to be more logical and not show our feelings as much and act more like men did, and people like Jaya have changed that,” Williams reflected. “They have allowed us to see the authenticity, the vulnerability, and to see how as a woman you can uniquely contribute because of that.”

Dr. Jaya’s contributions also include being a loving wife, mother, friend and cheerleader for those who dare to live life on their terms.

“I would love for everyone just to be who they are fully and to feel loved and accepted for who they are in this moment and for them to be able to take the shoulds off their shoulders and just exist as they are and not what people think they should be.”