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Volunteer Spotlight

Dottie Mullen

            Chelmsford, MA resident Dorothy Mullen, has over 45 years of clinical and managerial experience. “Dottie,” as she likes to be called, has volunteered at the Upper Merrimack Valley Medical Reserve Corps for more than 2 years and in various capacities. Ms. Mullen helps to facilitate clinics for the elderly, participates in mock disasters, and assists in actual emergencies. Most recently, during a flood, she worked as a nurse aiding flood victims at a local shelter in Lowell, MA.

            Ms. Mullen began her career in the medical field after receiving her nursing degree in 1962 from St. Elizabeth’s Hospital School of Nursing, in Brighton, MA.

            She worked as a registered nurse for several years, until assuming several supervisory positions for the Department of Mental Retardation (DMR) at the Hogan Regional Center, in Hawthorne, MA.- first serving as a nursing supervisor and later working her way to the position of Deputy Superintendent. During this time, Ms. Mullen pursued a Master’s Degree (MSM) in Human Services Administration at Lesley College in Cambridge. After receiving her degree, she became the Superintendent for the Department of Mental Retardation, Glavin Regional Center, in Shrewsbury, MA, serving for more than three years. From 1997-2001, Ms. Mullen became the Assistant Commissioner for Quality Management for DMR in the city of Boston and later worked as a consultant in developmental disability for the MEDSTAT Group in Washington, D.C.

            Today Ms. Mullen is retired and feels that two of her greatest life achievements were working as an AIDS coordinator for the Massachusetts DMR and working with other state agencies to establish and oversee policies and training programs for staff and clients.  She is also proud of the Risk Management Program she developed to provide appropriate safeguards for people with disabilities.  In her retirement, Ms. Mullen sometimes does consulting work for various healthcare organizations, while continuing to volunteer for the Upper Merrimack Valley Medical Reserve Corps. When asked why she decided to volunteer, Ms. Mullen said, “I enjoy the opportunity to serve in clinics and in emergency situations where clinical skills and people skills are both needed.”

            Ms. Mullen is happily married to her husband Tom, a retired college professor, of 44 years, and has three children and seven grandchildren. In her spare time, she enjoys practicing yoga, walking, traveling and cooking. When asked how she felt about her MRC colleagues, Ms. Mullen said, “The staff responsible for supporting and training MRC volunteers are exceptionally competent, respectful and helpful and make the whole process an enjoyable experience.” She suggests that anyone who is thinking about volunteering for the MRC should participate in all of the trainings offered. Ms Mullen said, “They (the trainings) provide a solid foundation for your role in MRC, which is very different from your everyday responsibilities at work.” Volunteers like Ms. Mullen understand the importance of adequate training and the confidence that training instills in each volunteer–and in turn makes them enjoy their job.

Click here to view previous Volunteer Spotlights.