Chapter 09: The Positive Effects of Institutional Growth

Chapter 09: The Positive Effects of Institutional Growth

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Description

Mr. Mulvey comments on the growth of MD Anderson since the 1980s and notes the overall positive effects of expansion.

Mr. Mulvey says he has been privileged to work at MD Anderson.

Identifier

MulveyP_02_20150519_C09

Publication Date

5-19-2015

City

Houston, Texas

Topics Covered

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center - Institutional Mission and Values; This is MD Anderson; MD Anderson History; Building/Transforming the Institution; Growth and/or Change; Discovery and Success; Personal Reflections, Memories of MD Anderson

Transcript

Tacey A. Rosolowski, PhD:

Some views on the growth of MD Anderson, because obviously the growth of the Development Office has been in sync with the growth of the institution as a whole. What are some observations that you can make about changes that have occurred in the institution because of growth and things that have remained the same?

Patrick Mulvey:

Hm. I think when I came here in ‘85 there were probably 7,000 employees, I don’t know how many square feet. And now—what is it?—20,000 employees and fifteen million square feet? Significant growth, significant growth. I don’t—I’m not sure if I know how to answer your question, though, about—

Tacey A. Rosolowski, PhD:

Well, I’m just wondering—

Patrick Mulvey:

I mean, it’s just the depth and the breadth of the institution has been—has exponentially grown to the world’s largest cancer center. I don’t know what else to say.

Tacey A. Rosolowski, PhD:

Do you—mm-hmm. Well, there are some people who have commented on kind of a change in atmosphere, or change in culture, with growth. I mean, you—there are always pros and cons, and I’m just curious what your observations have been as you’ve seen that expansion.

Patrick Mulvey:

You know, it—I go back to what I said earlier, is I think that—I don’t—I’m not aware of anyone who doesn’t understand exactly what the mission of this institution is, no matter if you’re 20,000 or 7,000. And, sure, when you get to be a bigger institution you may not know quite as many people intimately as you did when you were 7,000, but I would tell you that the way I view things is, we’ve got 13,000 new friends, you know, here, that are helping. You know, I would just remember going through my son’s eagle for Boy Scout and things like that. And, you know, when you take the troops out, and you’re building this and that and the other, you want every troop member helping, because many hands makes lighter work. And that’s the way I view this here. So, I see it. I see that as a great testament to this institution—its growth. And I think that the institution has managed it—the growth well, and is prospering because of it. So I see it—a real—just real positive.

Tacey A. Rosolowski, PhD:

Mm-hmm. And part of that growth has been—in a certain way, has been overseas as well, because of sister institutions and these international partnerships. To what degree is Development involved in some of those partnership relationships?

Patrick Mulvey:

It’s minor—very minor.

Tacey A. Rosolowski, PhD:

It’s minor? Okay.

Patrick Mulvey:

Mm-hmm . Now, there’s maybe some fundraising opportunities that come out of those, but in the development or the establishment of those, and the running of those, Development is not involved in it.

Tacey A. Rosolowski, PhD:

Okay, okay. What is it that keeps you getting up every morning, and—

Patrick Mulvey:

Just what I said before, you know?

Tacey A. Rosolowski, PhD:

—coming in the Holcombe Fan—Fannin/Holcombe Building? [laughs]

Patrick Mulvey:

This is a—I mean, it’s a real privilege to work here. You know, it’s a—if you can even say that you helped make life better for a patient or their family in your day’s work, I think that makes you want to wake up and come back tomorrow and work even harder.

Tacey A. Rosolowski, PhD:

What has MD Anderson done for you in these years?

Patrick Mulvey:

It makes your life whole.

Tacey A. Rosolowski, PhD:

Hm. What do you mean by that?

Patrick Mulvey:

Well, you know, you’re—you are doing mankind a wonderful service, you know? If you can make life better for one individual in your lifetime, you’ve done well.

Tacey A. Rosolowski, PhD:

It’s a lovely thing.

Patrick Mulvey:

Yeah, yeah. And I think that’s what we all do here at Anderson.

Tacey A. Rosolowski, PhD:

Mm-hmm. Is there anything else that you’d like to—insight that you’d like to give me into the work you do here?

Patrick Mulvey:

You—I think you’ve covered it well.

Tacey A. Rosolowski, PhD:

Okay.

Patrick Mulvey:

You’ve covered it well.

Tacey A. Rosolowski, PhD:

Well, thank you.

Patrick Mulvey:

Been a pleasure to visit with you.

Tacey A. Rosolowski, PhD:

Well, I thank you for your time. I—

Patrick Mulvey:

My pleasure.

Tacey A. Rosolowski, PhD:

I’ve learned a lot, ’cause I—

Patrick Mulvey:

Yeah, yeah.

Tacey A. Rosolowski, PhD:

This isn’t an area that I know very much about.

Patrick Mulvey:

Yeah.

Tacey A. Rosolowski, PhD:

So, I appreciate your—I appreciate your patience and insights.

Patrick Mulvey:

My pleasure, my pleasure.

Tacey A. Rosolowski, PhD:

So—

Patrick Mulvey:

And good luck on your recital and dance this weekend.

Tacey A. Rosolowski, PhD:

[laughs] Well, thank you.

Patrick Mulvey:

Yeah.

Tacey A. Rosolowski, PhD:

And if there’s nothing else you’d like to add?

Patrick Mulvey:

That’s it.

Tacey A. Rosolowski, PhD:

All right.

Patrick Mulvey:

Thank you. And thanks for doing this. This is an important exercise for the institution.

Tacey A. Rosolowski, PhD:

Yeah, it’s an interesting collection of perspectives—

Patrick Mulvey:

I’m sure it is.

Tacey A. Rosolowski, PhD:

—and all sorts of corners, of the people who make this the institution it is.

Patrick Mulvey:

Yes, ma’am. Yes, ma’am. Thanks.

Tacey A. Rosolowski, PhD:

All right, well, thank you.

Patrick Mulvey:

Good to meet you.

Tacey A. Rosolowski, PhD:

Thank you, very much, Mr. Mulvey.

Patrick Mulvey:

All the best, okay?

Tacey A. Rosolowski, PhD:

All right. Thank you. And I’m turning off the recorder—

Patrick Mulvey:

Okay.

Tacey A. Rosolowski, PhD:

—at 2:53.

Patrick Mulvey:

Very good.

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Chapter 09: The Positive Effects of Institutional Growth

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