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Types of ResourcesKimberley Bullard, MD, MPH
This year, I knew without hesitation whom I would nominate for the Alper Award. As I reflected on how best to capture the essence of Kim Bullard, I was reminded of the 1969 film True Grit. In the film, the protagonist Mattie Ross confronts overwhelming odds with unwavering determination. “True grit” is portrayed as an unbreakable spirit, a resolute will to persevere with dogged persistence in pursuit of a worthy goal. This description captures Kim Bullard perfectly.
Kim has faced extraordinary challenges during her residency training, including the difficult decision to leave her prior program on the West Coast and uproot her family to pursue more robust surgical training with our program. This transition ultimately extended her residency, an almost unfathomable burden for anyone who has endured the rigors of training. Where others might have allowed such hardship to breed bitterness or resentment, Kim chose a different path.
She dug in. She worked harder. She sought out every opportunity to grow, improve, and refine her surgical skills. Beyond her own development, Kim consistently looked for ways to elevate the program as a whole. She actively participated in quality improvement efforts and leveraged her connections from her previous residency and her MPH program to invite guest speakers to Chattanooga, enriching the educational experience for her co-residents through expanded didactics.
Many would have faltered under the combined pressures of residency, extended training, and the challenge of starting anew in a different program. Kim did not. Instead, she demonstrated true grit, meeting each obstacle with resilience, humility, and resolve. Her lifelong dream of becoming an OB/GYN has never wavered, and she has pursued it with a spirit of curiosity, gratitude, and awe.
Kim is a fierce advocate for women and provides compassionate, thoughtful care with a bedside manner that reflects both kindness and respect. She embodies the very qualities this award seeks to honor: determination, advocacy, humility, and an unwavering commitment to service. Kim Bullard is profoundly deserving of the Alper Award.