Michael T. Merrick, M.D.

Orthopedic Surgery - Spine & Neck

3414 Golden Road, Tyler, Texas 75701 (Spine Center)

(903) 939-7550

Dr. Merrick is a Board Certified orthopaedic surgeon with fellowship training in adult and pediatric spine surgery. He finished a one-year fellowship in spine surgery at the world-renowned Norton Leatherman Spine Center in Louisville, Kentucky. His interests include minimally invasive surgery, degenerative conditions in the neck and back, and deformity surgery.

Dr. Merrick grew up in The Woodlands, Texas. He earned a scholarship to play football at Rice University. After four years at Rice, he attended medical school at The University of Texas in Houston. He then completed his five-year orthopaedic surgery residency in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

“My hope is to help patients with disabling back and neck problems get back to living life on their own terms,” Merrick said.

“I believe that surgery should always be the last resort when it comes to treating spinal conditions in the neck and back,” Merrick explains. “However, if various non-operative treatments have been attempted without improvement, spine surgery may be the right answer. Our field has made tremendous advances in recent years. We have minimally invasive and motion-preserving technology that helps patients return to normal function more quickly.”

In 2019 – 2023, Dr. Merrick has been recognized by Texas Monthly Magazine with their Rising Stars Award. In  September 2023,  he was voted as a Best in Town winner by readers of the Tyler Telegraph. His category was “One of the Best – Spine Surgeon”.

Dr. Merrick was featured in the April 2022 edition of Tyler Medical Professionals Magazine. Click here to read the story.

 

Surgery of the Spine and Neck

American Board of Orthopedic Surgery, August 2018

State of Michigan – #4301094363

State of Kentucky

State of Texas – #1558590976

Fellowship
Spine Surgery
Norton Leatherman Spine Center
Louisville, KY
2014-2015

Residency:
Orthopaedic Surgery
Grand Rapids Medical Education Partners
Grand Rapids, MI
2010-2015

Internship:
Surgical Internship
Grand Rapids Medical Education Partners
Grand Rapids, MI
2009-2010

Medical School:
The University of Texas
Houston Medical School
Houston, TX
2005-2009

Undergraduate:
Bachelor of Science
Rice University
Houston, TX
2001-2005

Residency:
Grand Rapids Medical Education Partners – Orthopaedic Surgery Intern of the Year 2010
Mid-America Orthopaedic Association Educational Grant – 2013
OrthoPediatrics SRS Annual Meeting/IMAST Scholarship – 2013

Medical School:
Texas Medical Liability Trust Memorial Scholarship 2009
Spectacular Medical Student Award 2009

College:
Varsity Football Letterman – Rice University 2002 – 2004 (3 years)
1st Team Academic All-Western Athletic Conference 2002 – 2004 (3 years)
Rice University Scholar Athlete Award 2003 – 2004 (2 years)
1st Team Verizon/CoSIDA Academic-All American 2003
Team MVP vs The University of Texas 2003
1st Place in Biochemistry Project: The Chemistry of Lipitor 2003
The Mary Ann Lunsford Student Summer Externship Scholarship in Cardiovascular Medicine 2004
Rice University Study Abroad Scholarship – ICADS Summer Immersion Program, San Jose, Costa Rica 2003

Texas Medical Association
Texas Orthopaedic Association
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery, 2009-Present
AO Spine North America, 2012-Present
American Spinal Injury Association, 2012-Present

Merrick MT, Hamilton KD, Russo SS. Acute Epidural Lipedema: A Novel Entity and Potential Complication of Bone Morphogenetic Protein Use in Lumbar Spine Fusion. Spine J. 2013 Jun 22. S1529-9430(13)00533-0. [Epub ahead of print].

Youlo ST, Merrick MT, Cassidy JA, Halanski MA. Cervical Spinal Cord Injury After Thoracic Spinal Instrumentation: A Case Series. Spine J. Accepted for publication Sept. 2013.

Michael Merrick, David Rispler. Analysis of the Orthopaedic In-Training Examination – Spine Section. Grand Rapids Medical Education Partners Research Day. Grand Rapids, MI. April 2011.

Michael Merrick, Jeffrey Bradley, Michael Jabara. Proximal Tibiofibular Instability in the Setting of Multiligamentous Knee Injuries. Michigan Orthopaedic Society. Mackinac Island, MI. June 2011.

Michael Merrick, Jeffrey Bradley, Michael Jabara. Proximal Tibiofibular Instability in the Setting of Multiligamentous Knee Injuries. AO North America. Lake Buena Vista, FL. February 2012.

Michael Merrick, Jeffrey Bradley, Michael Jabara. Proximal Tibiofibular Instability in the Setting of Multiligamentous Knee Injuries. World Sports Trauma Congress. London, UK. October 2012.

Michael Merrick, James Stubbart. Successful Treatment of an Extensive Epidural Abscess with a Percutaneously Introduced Catheter for Drainage. North American Spine Society. Dallas, TX. October 2012.

Michael Merrick, Casey Smith, Debra Sietsema, Tan Chen, Tammy Beckett, Clifford Jones, James Stubbart, Scott Russo. Higher Rates Of Union In Older Patients With Type 2 And Type 3 Odontoid Fractures Treated With Teriparatide. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery Annual Meeting. Chicago, IL. March 2013.

Michael Merrick, Casey Smith, Debra Sietsema, Tan Chen, Tammy Beckett, Clifford Jones, James Stubbart, Scott Russo. Factors Associated With Nonunion In 100 Consecutive Type 2 And Type 3 Odontoid Fractures In Elderly Patients. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery Annual Meeting. Chicago, IL. March 2013.

Michael Merrick, Jeffrey Bradley, Michael Jabara. Proximal Tibiofibular Instability in the Setting of Multiligamentous Knee Injuries. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery Annual Meeting. Chicago, IL. March 2013.

Michael Merrick, Casey Smith, Debra Sietsema, Tan Chen, Tammy Beckett, Clifford Jones, James Stubbart, Scott Russo. Factors Associated With Nonunion In 100 Consecutive Type 2 And Type 3 Odontoid Fractures In Elderly Patients. Global Spine Congress. Hong Kong. April 2013.

Michael Merrick, Casey Smith, Debra Sietsema, Tan Chen, Tammy Beckett, Clifford Jones, James Stubbart, Scott Russo. Higher Rates Of Union In Older Patients With Type 2 And Type 3 Odontoid Fractures Treated With Teriparatide. Mid America Orthopaedic Association. Amelia Island, FL. April 2013.

Michael Merrick, Casey Smith, Debra Sietsema, Tan Chen, Tammy Beckett, Clifford Jones, James Stubbart, Scott Russo. Factors Associated With Nonunion In 100 Consecutive Type 2 And Type 3 Odontoid Fractures In Elderly Patients. Mid America Orthopaedic Association. Amelia Island, FL. April 2013.

Aslam M Khaja, Karen C Albright, Andrew D Barreto, Michael T Merrick, Hen Hallevi, Sheryl Martin- Schild, Nicole R Gonzales, Kachi Illoh, Raymond U Weir, James C Grotta, Elizabeth Noser. Elderly Patients Do Not Have Poorer Outcomes After Intra-Arterial Thrombolysis for Acute Ischemic Stroke. American Society of Interventional and Therapeutic Neuroradiology 4th Annual Conference. Dana Point, CA. 2007.

Mukhi S, Khaja A, Albright K, Barreto A, Wagner-Bartak N, Martin-Schild S, Merrick M, Grotta J, Weir R. (2007, August). Angiography Resource Utilization for Acute Intra-Arterial Therapy for Acute Ischemic Stroke. American Society of Interventional and Therapeutic Neuroradiology 4th Annual Conference. Dana Point, CA. 2007.

Aslam M Khaja, Michael T Merrick, Elizabeth A Noser, Karen C Albright, Nicole R Gonzales, Andrew D Barreto, Sheryl Martin-Schild, Hen Hallevi, Kachikwu Illoh, Hashem M Shaltoni, James C Grotta. Development of Orolingual Angioedema in Ischemic Stroke Patients Treated with Intravenous Tissue Plasminogen Activator. International Stroke Conference. San Francisco, CA. 2007.

Andrew D. Barreto, Michael Merrick, Hen Hallevi, Sheryl Martin-Schild, Karen C. Albright, Nicole R. Gonzales, Kachi Illoh, Elizabeth Noser, Hashem M. Shaltoni, Aslam M. Khaja, Raymond U. Weir, James C. Grotta. Adjunctive MERCI Catheter Utilization during Intra-Arterial Therapy Does Not Benefit Unselected Ischemic Stroke Patients. American Academy of Neurology 59th Annual Meeting. Boston, MA. 2007.

Michael Merrick, Kenneth Easton. Lumbar Pseudomeningocele Caused by Epidural Steroid Injection. International Spine Intervention Society 20th Annual Scientific Meeting, Las Vegas, NV. July 2012.

Michael Merrick, Casey Smith, Debra Sietsema, Tan Chen, Tammy Beckett, Clifford Jones, James Stubbart, Scott Russo. Higher Rates Of Union In Older Patients With Type 2 And Type 3 Odontoid Fractures Treated With Teriparatide. Global Spine Congress. Hong Kong. April 2013.

Main Clinic Address: 3414 Golden Road, Tyler, Texas 75701

Main Appointment Line: (903) 939-7501

Direct Line: (903) 939-7550

Fax: (903) 939-7765

Athens Clinic Address: 708 East Corsicana St., Athens, Texas 75751