Sydney Mulqueen, M.D.: Lorraine Sulkin-Schein Medical Student Award in Geriatric Medicine
While attending college, Dr. Sydney Mulqueen volunteered at a local hospital and nursing homes. One experience that left a lasting impression on her involved visiting with a man who lived to be 100, as she became captivated by his stories. That inspired her interest in geriatric medicine and helping older adults live long, fulfilling lives.
![Sydney Mulqueen, M.D.](/ctplus/stories/2023/assets/sydney-mulqueen-400x500.jpg)
What this award means: My interest in geriatric medicine was sparked when volunteering with the Hospital Elder Life Program at UTSW. I learned the importance of providing geriatric-specific medical care. I utilized my Scholarly Activity block to implement a geriatric medicine pre-clerkship elective. In this elective, students are paired with older adults to learn about geriatric medicine in the context of seeing seniors as individuals with unique backgrounds and interests. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to expand the geriatric-specific medical school curriculum at UTSW and am honored to be the recipient of this award.
Mentor comment: Sydney created and then helped lead a geriatric enrichment elective for four semesters, providing students with opportunities to learn and discuss the intricacies of providing age-friendly care. She is a champion for age-friendly care. Her future patients are fortunate to have her caring and advocating for them. – Jessica Voit, M.D., Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine
Background and family: I was born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas, and moved to Dallas after I graduated from college.
What led to your career path: I grew up in a family that placed great value on service. I spent a lot of time in college volunteering at the local hospital and nursing homes. One of the most special opportunities I had involved reading to an older adult who became a centenarian during my time there. Talking with him and learning more about his past became something I looked forward to each week, and this experience certainly shaped my career path. I find medicine to be a profession that offers the perfect combination of intellectual challenges and opportunities for leadership, all while holding service at the forefront.
College: I attended the University of Notre Dame, earning a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience and behavior. I graduated magna cum laude and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa.
UTSW activities: After my first year, I served on the UTSW PRE+OP Committee, helping to design and organize the orientation week for incoming medical students. I have also enjoyed helping with MS0 Weekend for the past four years, specifically leading the Community and Service breakout session. I have also loved spending time as a peer mentor, providing guidance to first- and second-year medical students.
Surprising fact: I am a classically trained pianist and still enjoy playing the piano in my free time. I particularly love arranging pop music into the classical form.
Ultimate career goal: I hope to keep humanism at the heart of the medical care I provide. To me, this means seeing patients as people before seeing them as their medical ailments. This also means individualizing the aid I provide to fit the needs of the person, keeping what matters most to them in my mind as I deliver care.
Future plans: I will be pursuing a residency in emergency medicine at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Massachusetts. I hope to become more involved in geriatric emergency medicine, focusing on how to tailor my care to the older adults in my community.
About the award: The Sulkin-Schein Award recognizes a medical student who has demonstrated compassion, keen interest, and commitment to the care of older adults. The award is named in honor of Mrs. Schein, a longtime supporter of UT Southwestern who bequeathed funds to promote geriatrics as a career path for medical students. She died in 2007 at the age of 89.