Michael T. Merrick, M.D.

Michael T. Merrick, M.D.

Azalea Orthopedics and Sports Medicine

Back and Neck
Orthopedic Spine Surgery
Orthopedic Surgery
Spine

3414 Golden Road, Tyler, TX 75701

Dr. Michael Merrick completed his spinal surgery fellowship with the Norton Leatherman Spine Center in Louisville, Kentucky. He is a graduate of the University of Texas’s medical school in Houston and spent his internship and residency years in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Now back in his home state of Texas, Dr. Merrick specializes in surgery of the spine for Azalea Orthopedics.

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

“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.”

Degrees and Education

Fellowship

Program: Spine Surgery

Institution: Norton Leatherman Spine Center

Location: Louisville, KY

Dates:

Residency

Program: Orthopaedic Surgery

Institution: Grand Rapids Medical Education Partners

Location: Grand Rapids, MI

Dates:

Internship

Program: Surgical Internship

Institution: Grand Rapids Medical Education Partners

Location: Grand Rapids, MI

Dates:

Medical School

Institution: The University of Texas – Houston Medical School

Location: Houston, TX

Dates:

Undergraduate

Degree: Bachelor of Science

Institution: Rice University

Location: Houston, TX

Dates:

Awards and Honors

Residency

  • Orthopaedic Surgery Intern of the Year – Grand Rapids Medical Education Partners ()
  • Mid-America Orthopaedic Association Educational Grant ()
  • OrthoPediatrics SRS Annual Meeting/IMAST Scholarship ()

Medical School

  • Texas Medical Liability Trust Memorial Scholarship ()
  • Spectacular Medical Student Award ()

Undergraduate

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

Professional Memberships

  • Texas Medical Association
  • Texas Orthopaedic Association
  • American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery ( – Present)
  • AO Spine North America ( – Present)
  • American Spinal Injury Association ( – Present)