Shmullus was originally the name of Dr. Danara Pel's uncle. She gave The Doctor this name when she was aboard USS Voyager in 2372. Later that same year, when Voyager contacted her about a cure for Captain Janeway and Commander Chakotay, she again called him "Doctor Shmullus." (VOY: "Lifesigns", "Resolutions") In the first draft script of "Lifesigns", the name of this relative was "Shmull" and he was Pel's brother, rather than her uncle.