Provider Spotlight: Get to Know Meryll E. Bouldin, M.D.

I was drawn to healthcare, in part, because I grew up around medicine. Both of my parents were physicians, and my youngest sister had special needs, so I had the opportunity to see the healthcare community from a lot of different perspectives. I learned early that medicine is both a service profession and a very humbling one. You are constantly learning, you do not always have all the answers, and people trust you to help them through some of their most difficult moments.

Emergency medicine felt like a natural fit for me. I love the challenge and variety, but especially how team-oriented it is. I grew up playing sports, and there is something familiar about a group of people with different roles and strengths coming together quickly around a common goal. I also love that you never stop learning and that, even on an ordinary shift, you have the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in someone’s life.

I feel really lucky to be an emergency physician. The Emergency Department is open 24/7, and for a lot of people, we are the safety net when something goes wrong, whether that is a true life-threatening emergency or because they simply have nowhere else to turn. I love that no two shifts are the same, and that, when someone really sick comes through the door, an entire team comes together quickly to take care of that patient. There is a real privilege in being able to be there for people in those moments and help get them through whatever brought them to us.

The other part of my job that I really love is residency education. I get to spend a lot of my time teaching, coaching, and helping residents grow throughout their training. It is incredibly rewarding to watch someone develop from a new intern into a skilled, confident emergency physician and leader. Being able to help shape that growth and prepare the next generation of emergency physicians is one of the most meaningful parts of my job.

I feel very lucky to work at UAMS. I trained here, stayed on as faculty, and now get to help lead and shape the same residency program that trained me. Along the way, UAMS has given me a lot of opportunities to grow, both within our department and through the College of Medicine.

More than anything, I really value the people I get to work with. I am surrounded by a great group of physicians, residents, nurses, staff, and leaders. I have learned a lot from them, had the chance to teach and mentor others, and been able to collaborate on projects and ideas that have helped me grow. It is a very team-oriented environment, and I feel fortunate to be part of it.

Right now, I would probably say my husband. He is also an emergency physician, and we went through residency at UAMS together, so in a lot of ways, we have grown up professionally and personally alongside each other. We have also built a life and family together, and he knows me better than anyone. He gives me perspective, pushes me, challenges me, and supports me when I need it.

I have always admired how strongly he advocates for what he believes in and how intentional he is about elevating the people around him. Being alongside him has influenced how I think about leadership, partnership, and the way I show up for the people around me.

People make fun of me because I am historically not very good at having hobbies. I do love the “Coaching for Leaders” podcast. It covers leadership, communication, coaching, and professional development in a really practical way, and I almost always come away with something I can apply to my work or the way I lead.

But I am trying to branch out! I recently started reading the “Throne of Glass” series and have gotten completely sucked into it. I’m also very excited that “Ted Lasso” is back for Season 4. It feels especially appropriate as a Kansas City girl since this season started back in KC. And, of course, Chiefs football is on, so that takes up plenty of my attention.

I would love to travel more. I have not had much opportunity to travel abroad yet, so the UK would probably be first on my list. I am also a big foodie, so getting to plan a trip around great food and going to a really special Michelin-star restaurant would be amazing.