For Tom Mullen, it?s all about being in the right place at the right time.
The chief executive officer of Mercy Medical Center has been “Johnny on the spot,” whether it was coming to lead Mercy Hospital into the new millennium, or taking a random day off at his beach house that led him to save the lives of two teenage boys.
Timing has been everything to Mullen.
“[Being CEO] has opened up the opportunity to help shape a hospital and do remarkable things,” the 50-year-old said.
In 1991, Mullen was named chief financial officer at Mercy, joining the then-newly appointed chief executive officer, Sister Helen Amos. With a vision of expanding Mercy as a medical institution, it was time for Mullen to shine.
“He has succeeded in developing outstanding programs that make Mercy one step above every other hospital,” said Dr. Scott Spiers, chief medical officer at Mercy. “He talks about patient care and safety, and he makes sure everyone knows that?s the most important thing.”
Taking over as the first lay president in the Mercy Medical Center?s 133-year history in 1999, Mullen has been directly responsible for the improvement or addition of a women?s oncology department, an institute for cancer care, an orthopedic foot and ankle department and a spinal care center. These improvements are just the tip of the iceberg, with Mullen trying to renovate the 44-year-old tower at the medical center into a state-of-the-art facility by 2010.
A 1978 graduate of the University of Maryland with a degree in business and accounting, Mullen initially went to work for McBee Associates, a health care consulting firm. From there, Mullen moved to the University of Maryland Medical System, and became a key player in its privatization from being associated with the state.
When the chance presents itself to leave the office, Mullen relishes the opportunity to visit his beach house in Oxford with Rosemary, his wife of 23 years.
One such break two years ago led to Rosemary discovering a pair of boys floating out to sea on a cold President?s Day.
Mullen saw the 13-year-olds clinging to a capsized kayak in freezing water. Calling to them, he talked them in about 50 yards before he went out to them and brought them to safety.
“If we didn?t spot them,” he said, “it could have been bad.”
Tom Mullen
» First job: Delivering flowers for Riedel?s Flowers Inc., in Columbia
» Education/credentials: Degree in accounting and business from the University of Maryland in 1978, and a master?s of Business Administration from Loyola College in 1986
» Best job perk: Access to great doctors and nurses
» Daily e-mails received: More than 100
» Daily voice mails received: 5
» Essential Web sites: Maryland Institute of Emergency Medical Service
» Career objective: Lead Mercy Health Systems into the future
» Favorite gadget: Treo
» Hometown: Baltimore
» Birth date: Dec. 8, 1956
» Original aspirations: To be a baseball player
» Sports/hobbies: Diving, fishing, basketball and trying golf
