Kindness in Action: Dr. Makadia's Impact
Kindness in Action: Dr. Makadia's Impact
She earned her Bachelor of Dental Surgery from Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar University in India in 2014, practiced briefly, and then moved to California, where she worked as a dental assistant before earning her DMD from Tufts University in 2020.
Dr. Makadia joined the Rose Park Dental Clinic in February 2024, bringing compassion and clinical experience. Colleagues describe her as caring, kind, gentle, and patient. One patient shared, “Dr. Makadia was fantastic. She not only made sure I felt comfortable, I felt I was treated as a whole person who was seen and respected as an equal who will work with her to make decisions about my care... I would absolutely recommend Dr. Makadia.”
Soon after joining, she stepped in to serve youth in the juvenile justice system and was named Lead Outreach Clinician in February 2025. She now leads both Juvenile Justice and Youth Services (JJYS) dental and UUSOD Mobile Dental Clinic programs, balancing them with her Rose Park Dental Clinic duties through exceptional organization and dedication. These qualities have earned her praise across departments.
“We feel incredibly lucky to have Radhika Makadia with our team at Juvenile Justice and Youth Services. We are so impressed with her ability to advocate for the youth in these facilities, her high-quality work output and attention to detail, strong communication skills and collaborative approach when working with multiple teams across the state, and genuine commitment to providing care for at-risk youth populations,” said Tom Rowley, Clinical Director of the College of Nursing.
“I find her to be very compassionate. We have a youth here that previously could only do dental work on Valium. She has been able to treat his teeth without it three times now. I have seen them go from anxious to get work done to trusting her. It's impressive to see someone take time with the youth but also be efficient. Everyone here, including staff, comments on how kind and friendly she is,” one JJYS staff member said.
“She communicates with the medical team very well and works great with the kids. I've overheard her thoroughly explaining dental care, problems and procedures to the kids, and she does it in a way they understand and makes them feel comforted when they are worried,” another JJYS staff member added.
As Lead Outreach Clinician, Dr. Makadia participates in at least five Mobile Dental Clinic trips annually, traveling up to five hours to designated health profession shortage areas to provide dental care. As our lead dental assistant, Kate Kapinos, likes to say, “Mobile is like dental camping.” Dr. Makadia takes these challenges in stride delivering excellent care to patients with complex needs using mobile equipment. Under Dr. Makadia’s leadership, the Mobile Dental Clinic exceeded their goals in fiscal year 2025 and maximized funding provided through the State of Utah Primary Care Grant. Her team can see it is not numbers that motivates Dr. Makadia, but a sincere desire to help improve the oral health of every patient she meets. Her patients from Mobile can attest to her care and attention:
- “Dr. Makadia was awesome, she explained everything to me ahead of time, answered my questions and the procedure was gentle and painless. Bravo, Dr. Makadia!”
- “She was very concerned about my comfort. She also explained what she was doing. I felt confident about the procedure.”
- “Dr. Makadia was so professional yet very sweet and welcoming, she put me at ease.”
If her schedule is not filled during a mobile trip, she can be found in local grocery stores, libraries, and other community spaces, personally spreading the word about available care through the Mobile Dental Clinic. She treats each community like it is her own and is truly invested in the oral health of every community she visits.
In just 18 months at the UUSOD, Dr. Makadia has made a lasting impact that reflects the mission and values of the UUSOD. She has built a reputation rooted in service, compassion, and excellence. Her role as Lead Outreach Clinician regularly places her in high-pressure environments, yet she consistently leads with kindness and an unwavering commitment to patient care, revealing the strength of her character when it matters most.