Dr. Madeline Cullins and Dr. Jim Sheng both came to UT Southwestern Medical School with open minds about their future areas of practice. But by their third year, each was set on anesthesiology.

“I closely considered almost every specialty, from pediatrics to plastic surgery,” Dr. Cullins said. “I loved that anesthesiology was an intersection of medicine and surgery and that I could work with my hands and work directly with patients all day.” 

“When I did my rotations, I tried to compare the aspects of each specialty with what I love about anesthesiology,” Dr. Sheng said. “I like doing things with my hands and seeing results immediately, so I knew anesthesiology would be a good fit for me.” 

Dr. Cullins and Dr. Sheng are the 2018 co-recipients of the MT “Pepper” Jenkins Outstanding Medical Student Award in Anesthesiology and Pain Management. The award recognizes a student seeking a career in anesthesiology who excelled in Medical School, takes an empathetic approach to patient care, and exhibits the characteristics of leadership, scholarship, and thirst for knowledge exemplified by the late Dr. M.T. “Pepper” Jenkins, who established and served as Chairman of the Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Management from 1948 to 1981.

In addition, both will soon start their residencies at UTSW. 

“Madeline demonstrates all the characteristics that Dr. Jenkins valued. She’s very empathetic, very people-oriented, and very interested about the future of the specialty,” said Dr. Charles Whitten, Chairman of Anesthesiology and Pain Management. “She will be a low-key, effective leader and continue Dr. Jenkins’ legacy and tradition in a positive way.”

“From the very beginning, Jim was interested in anesthesiology,” said Dr. Aditee Ambardekar, Associate Professor of Anesthesiology and Pain Management and Director of the Medical Student Education Program. “He became very active with our Department during his Distinction in Quality Improvement and Patient Safety project studying the implementation of handovers in the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit at Clements University Hospital. He also was an active member and officer in the Anesthesiology Student Interest Group.”

Dr. Madeline Cullins

Dr. Cullins knew as a Highland Park High School student that she wanted to be a doctor. “I admired the work my mother did as a nurse practitioner and that my grandfather did as a radiologist,” she said.

She followed her grandfather – Dr. Max Henry Faykus, Class of 1953 – to UTSW. “He was very excited and proud of me when I was accepted, and he will be making a trip to Dallas to watch me graduate.”

She majored in Plan II Honors, a liberal arts honors program at UT Austin. Her studies culminated in a thesis concerning the mental health treatment of foster care children in Texas.

At UTSW, she served as President of the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Interest Group and the Operation Smile Student Organization. She also worked with Dr. Eric Rosero, Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology and Pain Management, on a project comparing trachea sizes across the ethnically diverse patient population at UTSW. She presented an abstract for the research at the Texas Society of Anesthesiologists in July 2017 and will continue the project during her UTSW residency.

“I decided to stay here because my family and friends are here, I had really great mentors in the Department, and it’s a really strong clinical program,” she said. “I’m excited to finally change roles from being a med student and more of an observer to being a resident and having more responsibilities with direct patient care.”

But before she begins, she will hike in Peru and dive and sail in the Grenadines. “I got my scuba license when I turned 12, and my favorite type of dive is a night dive because of the unique marine life you can see.”

Dr. Jim Sheng

Born in Suzhou, China, Dr. Sheng immigrated with his parents and twin sister to Texas when he was 11 with hopes for greater opportunities and a better education. 

“That was probably the most challenging transition in my life as we were suddenly uprooted and replanted in a place where we knew nobody,” he said. “It definitely made me stronger as a person, and having lived through very different lifestyles, helped me gain a better perspective. It helped me appreciate what I have in my life and to realize that everything will work out eventually.”

His mother, a clinical researcher, is a former neurologist.

“My mom often spoke about the hardships of being a physician, and I think I was actually trying not to follow in her footsteps,” he said. “In college, I shadowed physicians to get a better understanding of how medicine is practiced in America. Eventually, I realized that being a physician aligned most with my personality and my drive to learn.”

At Rice University, he majored in biochemistry and picked up a love of photography. “People are the most dynamic subjects. People change, react, and look differently in every shot, so it’s very fun,” he said.

His parents work in the Dallas area, and his sister begins her prosthodontic residency this year. His dogs – Yuki and Zowie – remind him to appreciate the simple things in life.

Dr. Sheng is eager to start his residency. “I looked for programs that would prepare me as a physician. I ended up ranking UTSW first because I loved my time here and the Department. I’m excited to be a part of the team and work to be the best anesthesiologist I can be.” 

Dr. Whitten is the Margaret Milam McDermott Distinguished Chair in Anesthesiology and Pain Management.