Dr. Tyler McDonald – Class of 2015 Leadership Award

By Patrick Wascovich

Dr. Tyler McDonald
Dr. Tyler McDonald

Dr. Tyler McDonald is a hands-on kind of guy. President of the Class of 2015 at UT Southwestern Medical School, he has planned and taken part in activities and community events at the Medical Center, will soon begin a residency in orthopaedic surgery, and has tried his hand at diverse activities like rock climbing, playing banjo, and woodworking.

If there’s a pattern to this constant exploration, it is Dr. McDonald’s characteristic inquisitiveness and drive to master yet another skill. Born in Tennessee, he enjoyed outdoor activities like baseball, hunting, and fishing while growing up in Grapevine, where he participated in theatre and speech/debate at Grapevine High School. At UT Austin – where he graduated summa cum laude with a major in computational biochemistry – he was on the rowing team, captain by his senior year.

His medical education presented Dr. McDonald yet another challenge to master while leading the way.

“I went to medical school because I didn’t want a desk job and I liked science,” he said. “I didn’t really have any exposure to the field growing up since no one in my family is a doctor. I am the son of two accountants, so I found out pretty early on I didn’t want to do anything close to accounting.”

Dr. McDonald is the recipient of the 2015 Medical School Student Leadership Award. The recognition includes a $1,000 award.

“The award is based on the excellent leadership abilities Tyler has consistently demonstrated while serving as the President of the Class of 2015,” said Wes Norred, Vice President for Student/Alumni Affairs at UT Southwestern. “He stands out even among other leaders for his thoughtful and effective leadership style. I am among many who admire those qualities in him.

“Tyler has served the class well and has served the medical center well, and I know he will have an impressive career, both as a physician and as a leader in every endeavor he takes up.”

For his part, Dr. McDonald said his interactions with institutional and school leaders like Mr. Norred, Dr. Dennis Burns, Professor of Pathology; Dr. Angela Mihalic, Associate Dean for Student Affairs, and Professor of Pediatrics; and Dr. Jim Wagner, Associate Dean for Student Affairs, and Professor of Internal Medicine; provided constant inspiration and up-close views of people he considers role models.

On March 20, Dr. McDonald matched in orthopaedic surgery at the University of Mississippi University Hospitals in Jackson. Not long afterward, he and several other medical students were back at work putting the finishing touches on the senior video.

“I’m looking forward to my orthopedics residency and finally starting my career,” he said. “But before moving I want to finish building the guitar I started during medical school.”

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Dr. Burns holds the Jane B. and Edwin P. Jenevein, M.D., Chair in Pathology.