Dr. Merriman was born in Louisiana but grew up all over the South, including Arkansas, Texas and Alabama. Growing up that way has certainly embellished his natural gift to understand and relate to people and knowing how to make them feel at ease with sometimes difficult situations.
With his wife of more than 20 years, Katy, they are raising two children aged 16 and 13. As a family, they enjoy outdoor activities including travel, skiing (water and snow), wakeboarding, camping, hiking and "dirt bike" motorcycling.
He has always been interested in all things technological, fostering his early interest in laparoscopy as well as surgical robotics. He is dedicated to remaining on the "cutting edge" of knowledge and innovation in his area of surgery.
He entertains himself with his inborn love of music (he has been an accomplished drummer since the age of 12), movies (especially sci-fi and westerns), speaking (he was the national college debate champion of 1983) and the Green Bay Packers (having made several "pilgrimages" to the frozen tundra of Lambeau field).
Dr. Merriman's well-rounded life experiences foster his commitment to treating his patients as more than their disease by following a simple philosophy — always treat people as an end unto themselves, and never as a means to an end. |
