Dr. Molly Drlik

Molly Ann Drlik, MD passed away unexpectedly from natural causes on June 19th, 2024. She passed away doing what she did best, taking care of others, at the Detroit Medical Center (DMC) in Detroit, Michigan. Molly was born on April 7th, 1992 in Albuquerque, New Mexico to loving new parents Jan and Laura Drlik. After her first year of life, the Drliks relocated to Midland, Michigan where Molly was raised along with her younger sisters, Sara and Olivia. As a young child, Molly always had a big imagination and began dancing and singing as soon as she could walk and talk. She, her sisters, and her cousins loved to play dress-up and perform for family and friends. She developed an aptitude for music and the arts, performing for audiences big and small throughout her childhood. She enjoyed taking dance, singing, and piano lessons and performing in musicals. The Drliks frequently spent summers vacationing up north by Lake Charlevoix or taking road trips out west to Aspen, Colorado. Molly first learned to ski at age three and found a love for snowboarding in middle school. She even spent several years as an instructor at Nub's Nob in northern Michigan and taught dance to young children in Midland. At Dow High School, Molly excelled academically in advanced courses, where her passion for science truly came alive in AP Biology. She was also a member of the marching band and performed in many musicals; some of her favorites included Singin' in the Rain and Beauty and the Beast. After high school, Molly attended her dream school, the University of Michigan, where she studied neuroscience. In addition, Molly was in the Michigan Marching Band (MMB) as the third generation, where she played trombone and was eventually named rank leader. She dressed for every Michigan home game during her undergraduate career. Molly was a "bando" through and through, becoming a pillar in the MMB community. She was a devoted member of the Kappa Kappa Psi music fraternity and played in both the Michigan basketball and hockey bands. Post undergrad, Molly focused on applying to medical school. It had been her lifelong dream to become a doctor. While applying to medical schools, Molly worked in the gynecological clinic at the University of Michigan and volunteered at a women's shelter. She also worked as an EPIC trainer and later as a certified nursing assistant (CNA) at the Bone Marrow Transplant unit, where she met a nurse who would become her future fiancé, Jordan Gonzalez. Molly was accepted into the Ross University School of Medicine in 2015. She completed her didactics there, and then performed all of her clinicals stateside. In 2020, she completed a preliminary surgery year at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF). While there, Molly and Jordan loved exploring the natural beauty of California. In 2021, she was accepted into the DMC Anesthesia Residency Program. Molly was overjoyed to return to her beloved home state of Michigan and live closer to her family. She loved the challenges that anesthesia provided and was constantly learning how to be a better practitioner. On the day of her passing, Molly matched into a Cardiothoracic Anesthesia Fellowship at the University of Maryland which was set to begin in July 2025. Molly made a profound impact on her fellow doctors at DMC and will be fondly remembered by all she worked with. She was the first to help if anyone needed it, even if it was just bringing joy and optimism with her infectious laugh. She was looking forward to her Cardiac fellowship and getting married in the fall near her parents' home on Duck Lake. Despite being a busy resident, Molly continued to prioritize traveling often. She loved seeing new places and especially loved snow and snowboarding. Some of her favorite hobbies included hiking, being outside, listening to audiobooks, and spending time with her dog Taco. She enjoyed visiting National Parks around the Country, and loved being on the water at Duck Lake. Molly is survived by her loving fiancé, Jordan Gonzalez, her parents Jan and Laura Drlik, her sisters Sara and Olivia and their partners, Sam Shabrang and Ola Amokomowo, and many others who considered Molly a big sister. Molly will be missed by many caring family members and friends around the world. A visitation will be held on Saturday, June 29th, from 10 a.m. until time of service, 11 a.m., at Wm. Sullivan & Son Funeral Home, 705 W. 11 Mile Rd. Royal Oak. To honor Molly, Feel Free to wear Bright Colors if you feel Comfortable. The funeral service will also be livestreamed, accessible at https://view.oneroomstreaming.com/index.php?data=MTcxOTI3MDExMzMxNTU4MyZvbmVyb29tLWFkbWluJmNvcHlfbGluaw==. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Forgotten Harvest.

Dr. Molly Drlik

April 7, 1992 - June 19, 2024