Dr. Mariaelena Boyle

Mariaelena Boyle, MD

House Officer 2, General Surgery Residency

Biography

Dr. Mariaelena Boyle is a general surgery resident at Michigan Medicine. Mariaelena or, as most call her, Mari, grew up in rural Texas and went on to complete her undergraduate studies at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio where she received a B.S. in Biochemistry and B.A. in Art, painting. She then went on to receive her medical degree from McGovern Medical School at UT Health Houston.

During her time at McGovern, Mari participated in collaborative and independent projects in the lab of Allison Speer, MD in the Department of Pediatric Surgery to explore novel models of tissue-engineered small intestine (TESI) as a potential therapeutic for children with short bowel syndrome. This work resulted in publishing data that suggests the TESI model utilized in the Speer lab expresses tight junction genes critical for barrier maintenance and small bowel function (PMID: 33168233). Mari received the first place Webber Prize for student research for this work.

Mari is also committed to improving educational programs, encouraging collaboration between healthcare professionals, and patient-centered compassionate healthcare. She was a member of the reaccreditation committee to address areas of progress and continual improvement of medical education and the learning environment in preparation for Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) site visits. She also worked as an institutional committee member to encourage collaboration between students from all six UT Health schools to bring pertinent issues affecting underrepresented students to the UTHealth executive administration. Through a student organization, Health Professionals Against Interpersonal Violence, Mari advocated for improved education and training for medical students in preparation for encounters with patients who have experienced domestic violence, a prevalent issue nationwide. In addition, she organized health screenings with physicians, residents, and medical students for domestic violence survivors at a local shelter (Houston Area Women’s Center). Mari received the Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award for her efforts to encourage compassionate care at an organizational and individual level.

Throughout her baccalaureate and graduate studies, Mari remains passionate about mentorship and has continued as both a mentee and mentor in formal programs as well as through informal networking. She has clinical interests in pediatric surgery and surgical oncology with additional academic interests in translational and equity research. She maintains memberships in the Association for Academic Surgery (AAS), American College of Surgeons (ACS), American Pediatric Surgery Association (APSA), and Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS). As she continues her education at Michigan Medicine, she is excited to connect with others to further pursue opportunities in surgical research, education, and mentorship.

Education

  • Undergraduate: University of the Incarnate Word, 2018
  • Medical School: McGovern Medical School at UT Health Houston, 2022

Why Michigan Surgery

"I chose to train at Michigan Surgery to learn from excellent teachers who are invested in you not only as a resident, but as a developing leader in surgery. One of the great strengths of this program is providing challenging clinical experiences in a supportive environment."

Life in Ann Arbor

"Ann Arbor and the surrounding area is a fun place to live with plenty of outdoor and social spaces to explore with friends and family."

Hobbies

"I enjoy road and trail biking, painting, trying all the great restaurants, and spending time with my partner and friends."