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.

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.