Arshia Khan
Busy doctors Meryll Pampolina Bouldin and John Bouldin love their new life in the metro. In their spare time, they love to try cool new restaurants, like Valhalla Restaurant & Axe Throwing in Benton (pictured).

Dr. Meryll Pampolina Bouldin and her husband, Dr. John Bouldin, both work as emergency medicine physicians, and Meryll says their jobs are what led them to stay in Little Rock.

“John and I actually met at UAMS during intern year of residency,” Meryll says. “Our story kind of started here in Arkansas!”

While Meryll attended medical school in Missouri and John in Alabama, they both went to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) for their residency training. Meryll says she wanted to work in an academic hospital, so she continues to work at UAMS. John is at St. Vincent Hot Springs because he wanted to serve within a community.

Meryll says the affordability, charm, convenience, and family-friendly characteristics of Metro Little Rock are why so many out-of-state doctors choose to stay. The Bouldins reside in the Tucker's Hill neighborhood in Alexander, a new development in the renowned Bryant School District with 1-acre lots. Alexander offers the two doctors an easy commute to and from their respective hospitals.

“There are a lot of medical subspecialties represented in the Little Rock metro, and the market isn't saturated,” Meryll says.

However, while the medical field brought them to Arkansas and encouraged them to stay, there are other things that led them to fall in love with Metro Little Rock.

“We are big foodies, so we love trying out new restaurants,” Meryll says. A few of their favorite places to eat are Petit & Keet, The Fold and Arthur’s. She says there are plenty of local restaurants, and new ones often pop up, as well as breweries.

Meryll says they also love to hike and explore the outdoors, and one of their new favorite places is Lake Catherine. “Arkansas is beautiful,” Meryll says.

Neighborhood Recommendations

Originally from: Missouri
Years in the metro: 4.5
Neighborhood: Alexander

Hair salon: The Fix Salon in Riverdale
Go-to gym: Core Concept in Midtown
Doctors we trust: Dr. Julie Goodwin of Central Clinic for Women at Baptist Health Little Rock
Happy hour hot spot: Heights Taco & Tamale in The Heights
Dining out on repeat: Big Orange in Midtown
Fave annual event: Arkansas Times Margarita Festival in Midtown
Guilty-pleasure stores: The Promenade at Chenal (Meryll) and Game Goblins (John),
both in West Little Rock
Best dog-friendly hangouts: Bark Bar in Downtown and Murray Park in Riverdale