Michael Mullowney, MD, is an experienced hospitalist physician and volunteer medical professional. Following his time as the co-director of hospital medicine and the pediatrics department for Rutland Regional Medical Center in Vermont, he relocated to Alaska. He joined numerous medical facilities in hospitalist and related leadership roles. Michael Mullowney, MD, has cared for adult patients in hospital settings with the Alaska Hospitalist Group since 2003. He has held similar positions at Heritage Place, Providence Extended Care, St. Elias Long Term Acute Care Hospital, Providence Alaska Medical Center, Alaska Regional Hospital and Central Peninsula Hospital .
During his time as a hospitalist at Alaska Regional Hospital, Dr. Mullowney presented numerous community-focused lectures on topics of dementia, pneumonia, and medications. In addition to giving back to the communities where he works, he has provided volunteer medical services in Haiti, Cambodia, China, and Bolivia.
A magna cum laude history graduate of Loyola University, Dr Mullowney achieved his medical degree from Georgetown University School of Medicine and completed his internal medicine and pediatrics training at Duke University Medical Center.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
I awaken at 3:30 am and work out under the stars and go for a run if I am off that day. I then make breakfast for the kiddos and drop them off at school. I read medical literature for a few hours, then go kite surfing or paragliding or sometimes both! I pick up kiddos at school, along with my wife, and drive them to various activities. We have dinner together at home and do homework in the evening. Time allowing, we go for a walk or play some game outside, like badminton or roller blading.
If working, I am usually on nightshift, so I arrive home after the shift and exercise, either working out or going for a bike ride or snorkel. For work, I am usually busy throughout my 12-hour shift, admitting new patients, performing procedures, and attending patients already in hospital. If I get the luxury of downtime during work hours, I enjoy reading up-to-date articles about my active patients.
How do you bring ideas to life?
As a physician, I am goal oriented. So, I make a list of “to-dos” and then make a concerted effort to complete my list. As a high school student, I made a decision to work in Haiti as a volunteer, and so I worked on that and made it happen. Ever since, I’ve felt confident that I could make any idea a reality if I defined it and worked on executing it. Going forward, I volunteered around the world, visited over 50 countries, collaborated on a few custom homes, and learned many exciting sports by the simple principle of defining a goal and working on making it real.
What’s one trend that excites you?
We moved to Maui in 2020 during the height of COVID. We have subsequently met so many like-minded people who did the same. Like us, they brought with them unique personal histories, professional training, and a desire to learn from the community and give back to the community. It’s so inspiring to interact with these families and witness how much everyone evolves over the years among the inspiring background of the Hawaiian Islands and Aloha Spirit.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
Determination: the habit of focusing on a goal and seeing it to completion, regardless of the time and personal energy investment. It is through determination that we reap the benefit and satisfaction of completion. And it’s a self-propagating quality: the more we complete, the happier we feel, and the more likely we are to want to maintain that determination to complete more goals.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Relax. Take time to enjoy your surroundings. Open your eyes and carefully survey the landscape and enjoy discovery. Spend time with family and friends. Don’t be in such a hurry to move on to your next project. Rather, stop and enjoy the view and experience of completion before charging off into a new future.
Tell us something you believe that almost nobody agrees with you on.
That waking up early is a good idea. Honestly, I usually start my non-working days at 3:00 or 3:30 am. This allows me the opportunity to work out and enjoy nature. Living on Maui is such a bonus, as the early mornings are simply gorgeous. Here, I can work out doing calisthenics and yoga positions while listening to nature and enjoying the night sky. In Maui, the night view is amazing: Milky Way, planets, stars, constellations, meteors. After working out, I feel refreshed and ready to begin my day in an impactful way.
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
I recommend establishing a healthy and productive routine and sticking to it. Like waking early, exercising, and committing to learning activities daily, such as reading or practicing sports. I find some particular sports on Maui very inspiring and healthy and which intensify my experience of Maui: kite surfing and paragliding. With the former, I feel connected to the ocean and waves; with the latter, I feel attached (and dis-attached!) from the volcano Haleakala—which we launch from—and hyper focused on the bicoastal views from upcountry. So, I would recommend, as well, finding a sport that is healthy and inspires you and then stick with it, as it will make you feel happier and more satisfied.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
At such times, I find it very beneficial to check in with my wife and kiddos and focus on their lives and their concerns. It is easy to do, as they lead such interesting lives also! After a while spent in the company of family, I feel decompressed and satisfied and ready to take on life’s challenges anew.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
I would hearken back to the idea of setting goals and then achieving them. Nothing is too unrealistic, nothing is too unobtainable. Rather, define what you want and then work on achieving it. It may sound unrealistic, but it’s true.
Here’s an example:
My wife and I decided to move to Maui from Alaska. It seemed far-fetched, but we did it. Moreover, we bought pastureland and developed it into a family estate and active AG business. The idea at the time seemed insurmountable, but we remained determined and hopeful and over the years made it a reality. The real prize at the end of the day is the satisfaction of reminiscing about how this all got started and how we made it happen over time.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
I do not have one specific failure to pinpoint. But I always consider missed opportunities to enjoy the fruits of my labor by charging after the next big project, instead of stopping to enjoy what I have done. For example, I spent several years designing and financing a custom home in Anchorage. It was stunning on completion and won national recognition and was published in a large coffee table architectural book and several magazines. Once completed, I spent little time there, as I became interested in scuba diving and underwater photography and dedicated all of my free time to diving around the world. In retrospect, I wish I had spent a staycation there, enjoying the space and appreciating the project more.
What is one business idea you’re willing to give away to our readers?
I believe there are a lot of AG-related business ventures out there specific to Maui. I am looking into grass seed production, as some varieties are extremely expensive yet possible to plant and harvest in a low-investment farming venture. I am also looking into medium-scale greenhouse farming for vegetables with aim to sell to 5-star resort hotel restaurants. The demand is there, and it would be so satisfying to make a business out of farming.
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
I love my MacBook Pro and all the attendant software. Being facile with its various software programs and moving between different formats has been a real bonus especially, when I am making public lectures or preparing expense reports or communicating with my accountant.
What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?
I just spent $100+ on a procedures course on mainland. The price includes a lot of medical literature on the fundamentals of various procedures, as well as a two-day intensive hands-on course. It will improve my procedural expertise and the level of patient care I can provide.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?
I am addicted to Science Friday. As a physician, I love science, and I learn so much from the various topics presented on this podcast. I find all the topics very interesting, but I have a special interest in any medical-oriented topics, as I have a deep understanding of the field already. Book-wise, I just finished Eruption. It was a real page-turner, especially given its setting on Big Island with the main protagonist, Mauna Loa, where I live and work half of the year.
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
Our Oceans, narrated by President Obama. Simply amazing! Truly inspiring!! We watch it as a family. My wife and I have dove many of the locations covered in the series, and so it’s been so enriching to share our experience with the kids and inspire them to be future divers.
Key learnings
- Goal setting is one of the keys to success.
- Determination is the way to achieve our goals.
- Appreciating our success is necessary for a fulfilling life.