John Mulhall

What inspired you to work in sexual medicine?

In 1989, I was reading the New England Journal of Medicine and came across a review article published by Irwin Goldstein, Inigo Saenz de Tejada, and Bob Krane on impotence. I was fascinated by the physiology that was described by the authors. Before doing a day of urology, I negotiated with my chair of surgery to spend two months with Irwin doing research, and my passion for the field was ignited and sealed before I ever returned to my residency program.

We should never underestimate the role that we play in igniting and inspiring passion in our specialty among medical students or trainees.

What is the most rewarding aspect of your career?

The most rewarding aspect of my career will always be the legacy that I leave behind. This legacy is in two parts: helping men and couples who are struggling with sexual dysfunction, but also the trainees that I've inspired to follow the specialty and who have excelled in the space.

I've been very fortunate to run a fellowship program for more than 20 years and have been able to watch the fellows that I have trained go on and excel themselves, and run fellowships of their own, creating their own legacy.

What is something most people don’t know about you? 

Most people are not aware that for 20 years of my life as a younger man, I played elite rugby. I was very fortunate to captain my university in Dublin and captain my country at the university level.

The other thing that most people don't know about me is that I'm a Sharkaholic and love underwater photography, especially of sharks.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

That one's reputation is the single most valuable thing that we possess as an academic physician. Nothing should ever stand in the way of protecting your reputation. It takes years to build and minutes to ruin.

What would your ideal vacation be?

As an avid scuba diver, anywhere I can get in the water and photograph incredible pelagic life, especially sharks, would be top of my list.