James William Mullen

James (Jim) W. Mullen was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on August 17, 1941. He grew up with his parents, James C. and Helen (Landis) Mullen, both deceased, and his younger sister, Jenny (Partridge). His childhood memories included boating with his father on the Ohio River, spending time with his grandfather Albert Landis and being a member of the Triginta Optimi fraternity at Western Hills High School where he graduated in 1959.

Jim pursued an undergraduate degree in Zoology at the University of Michigan where he graduated in 1963. He completed medical school at the University of Kentucky Medical Center. His surgery externship at the Royal Infirmary in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1967 and surgery internship at University of Minnesota Hospitals from 1967-1968 solidified his dedication to emergency medicine. During the final year of his surgical residency at the University of Kentucky Medical Center, Jim met his future wife, Martha Pat Donovan, during his rotation at the VA Hospital where she worked as a surgical ICU nurse. Jim and Martha married on February 14, 1972.

Upon moving to California later that year, Jim began his two years of active naval service. A year aboard the USS Coral Sea in Vietnam as the ship surgeon was followed by a year as a staff surgeon at the US Navy Regional Center, Oak Knoll in Oakland, California. After his military service, Jim was thrilled to start his own private medical practice in Half Moon Bay, California where he served the local community from 1974-1976.

Together, Jim and Martha raised four children, Kelly Shannon (Powell), Tara Shay (Vaughn), Shane Michael Mullen and Kaci Carolyn (Larson). In 1976, the family moved to San Diego, California where Jim embarked on a full-time career as an emergency room physician. Hospitals and clinics where he worked across 17 years in San Diego included: San Diego Community Hospital, Paradise Valley Hospital, Pacific Beach Urgent Care, Scripps Mercy Hospital and Sharp Memorial Hospital.

Jim began a new chapter in 1993 with a move to Nashville, Tennessee. His years in Nashville were spent at Middle Tennessee Medical Center in Murfreesboro, Baptist Hospital in Nashville and most recently at Cookeville Regional Medical Center. His 16 years at Cookeville became the highlight of his career where he created long-lasting relationships with co-workers, staff and patients alike. He fought with diligence and drive to maintain his ability to practice medicine over the last three years after receiving his cancer diagnosis. During this time, he reluctantly shifted from doctor to patient.

Jim’s fifty years in the emergency room reflected his strong desire to help others. Despite his sometimes unorthodox ideas, he was well respected by those in the medical field and deeply trusted by all. He was a mentor to many, as well as kind and tender with his patients. This extended to his own children with the advice he gave and the many stitches he applied. He was known by many names: Dr. Jim, Dr. Daddy, Mullinator, Mulls and The Medicine Man.

In his personal life, Jim found his greatest pleasure in his children, grandchildren and international travel. He was quite the history buff and enjoyed stumping everyone with his knowledge of history, geography, botany and, of course, medicine.

Jim is survived by his wife, Martha, daughter Kelly (husband, Scott and children, Tori, Connor and Morgan), daughter Tara (husband, Dan), son Shane (wife, Caroline and children, Victoria, Margaret and Elizabeth), daughter Kaci (husband, Jeff and children, Micah, Jeremiah and Levi arriving April 2017) and his sister Jenny (husband, Phil and children, Ben, Nick and Chris).

Jim is a true testament of a life well lived and one that touched so many. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.