Chronic injuries as a student-athlete opened Dr. Kylie Cullinan’s eyes to the importance of a physician with a gift for teaching, and a gap year as a middle school teacher sharpened her own skills. Now as a recipient of the Dr. Richard Mays Smith Award, she looks forward to a career of educating and empowering her patients.

Dr. Kylie Cullinan

What this award means: It has been such a rewarding experience to be a medical student at UTSW. I have found such excellent examples of how to practice medicine from residents and attendings alike in Internal Medicine. It is very flattering to be recognized among such an outstanding group of peers by this Department.

Mentor comment: Kylie is the type of student for whom textbook and lecture knowledge easily translates to the bedside, making her a natural all-around practitioner for medicine. Combined internal medicine-pediatrics suits her particularly well, given her self-confidence and leadership skills, demonstrated to all levels of team members as well as patients. – Dr. Angela Orlino, Associate Professor of Internal Medicine

Background and family: I was raised in the suburbs of Houston. Both of my parents are in education. Though no one in my family is involved in health care, my parents were incredible role models of compassion, patience, and dedication to a craft and examples of why great teaching matters.

What led to your career path: In college, I had a fairly disappointing athletic career riddled with injuries. It took an incredibly patient and thorough sports medicine doctor to unscramble the various issues and explain how to address them. I gained a real appreciation for the physician not only as an investigator, but also as a teacher with the ability to empower patients. When I spent a gap year teaching seventh-grade English, I had an opportunity to build critical skills as a communicator delivering messages to a diverse audience and had an eye-opening look at the impact of socio-economic inequalities on children.

College: At Rice University, I double majored in biochemistry and English, was an 800- and 1,500-meter runner for the women’s track and field team, led a peer-tutoring group, served as a freshman orientation coordinator, was a 2014 Rice Scholar Athlete, and received the Pfeiffer Senior Service Award.

UTSW activities: I was a member of the Camp Sweeney medical staff, Hematology & Oncology Student Interest Group, and Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. I also served as President of the Med/Peds Student Interest Group, Girls on the Run assistant coach, and YMCA boys basketball coach.

Surprising fact: The first year, I coached a seventh-grade boys basketball team with fellow medical students Jenine Hassoun and David Cho. We went 0-13.

Future plans: I plan to continue my training at UT Southwestern. I am entering med/peds, aiming to work with young adults transitioning from the pediatrics world to adult medicine. Young adults with chronic conditions provide challenges, both in navigation of social and interpersonal situations and in management of complex disease processes. As a pediatrician and internist, I want to balance medical expertise with compassion and education so that I can be the physician that this population deserves.

About the award: The award is given annually to one or more graduating medical students who excel academically during clinical rotations and who exhibit an interest in and compassion for patients.