Dr. Lawrence Wu: Dr. Richard Mays Smith Award
Dr. Lawrence Wu’s immigrant parents benefited from safety net programs when they first arrived in the U.S., and they taught their son the importance of giving back whenever possible. Through them, Dr. Wu feels a deep indebtedness to care for all – particularly the underserved. He is one of this year’s recipients of the Dr. Richard Mays Smith Award.
What this award means: “I love the culture of service and community engagement at UT Southwestern. Practicing compassionate and holistic medicine is a key goal of mine as a physician, and I look at many of my Internal Medicine mentors as role models. I am honored to be recognized in this way as I believe it reflects the tremendous support from my family, friends, and mentors.”
Mentor comment: “Lawrence has shown prodigious talent and a remarkable work ethic. He won the President’s Service Award three years in a row and last year was elected as the Gold Humanism Honor Society President. He is a natural leader with a servant’s heart.” – Dr. Reeni Abraham, Associate Professor of Internal Medicine and co-Director of the Internal Medicine Clerkship
Background and family: “My parents immigrated from China to New York shortly before I was born. I was raised in Long Island, New York. I met my wife, Ashley, in medical school, and she is going into pediatrics. Together, we plan to holistically serve our broader communities.”
What led to your career path: “Through my parents, I feel a deep indebtedness to care for all, particularly the underserved. I have found a tremendous sense of gratification and excitement in serving these populations. I was particularly drawn to the field of internal medicine because I believe that I could best care for these patients holistically while also contributing to the broader field through contributions in research, medical education, and mentorship.”
College: “I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in biology with honors and a master’s degree in biotechnology from the University of Pennsylvania. I volunteered with child life services at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, as a reading tutor in West Philadelphia elementary schools, and throughout the community with my church. I also conducted translational research on drug resistance mechanisms to targeted and immune checkpoint blockade inhibitor therapies in metastatic melanoma at the Wistar Institute.”
UTSW activities: “I loved my medical school experience at UT Southwestern, particularly for its culture of service and collaboration. I served as Director of DFW Hepatitis B Free, partnering with many community and religious organizations to screen for viral hepatitis in the DFW area. I enjoyed serving as a student manager of the Agape Dermatology Clinic and a clinic team leader for the Southwestern Christian Fellowship El Paso medical mission trip. I was also co-President of the Gold Humanism Honor Society and a member of Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society.”
Surprising fact: “I enjoy acrylic painting and my favorite subject to paint is anthropomorphisms – animals with human features. I also went to the same elementary school as Jerry Seinfeld, which may explain my sense of humor.”
Future plans: “I am excited to begin training at the Osler Medical Residency at Johns Hopkins Hospital. I plan to practice in an academic medical center that cares for a large underserved population similar to Parkland Memorial Hospital. I am inspired by my many mentors and their willingness to teach the younger generation of physicians. I hope to give back similarly through research, medical education, and mentorship.”
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.