Russell J. Merritt, MD, PhD

Founding Director, Intestinal Rehabilitation Program
Attending Physician
Professor Emeritus of Pediatrics, Keck School of Medicine of USC

Russell J. Merritt, MD, PhD is the attending physician for the Nutrition Support Team and for Intestinal Rehabilitation at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. He is Professor Emeritus of Pediatrics at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California.

His practice focuses on nutritional support of hospitalized patients, intestinal failure, the nutritional needs of chronically ill children, including those with feeding problems. He is a past president of the American Board of Nutrition and the Infant Formula Council.

Clinical Interests

Nutritional support of hospitalized patients, intestinal failure and the nutritional needs of chronically ill children, including those with feeding problems.

Education

Medical School

University of California, Irvine School of Medicine

Graduate School

PhD: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Nutritional Biochemistry and Metabolism)

Internship

Children's Hospital Los Angeles

Residency

Children's Hospital Los Angeles

Fellowship

Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Boston (Clinical Nutrition)
University of California, Los Angeles (Pediatric Gastroenterology)
Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (Pediatric Gastroenterology)

Accomplishments

Certifications

Pediatrics, Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition
American Board of Physician Nutrition Specialists

Professional Memberships

American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition
American Society for Nutrition
North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition

Publications

Books: 

Dr. Merritt has edited two editions of the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition’s Practice Manual for Nutrition Support

Peer Reviewed Articles:

Kushner R, Graham T, Hegazi R, Jensen G, Marik P, Merritt RJ. Optimizing integration of nutrition into patient care through physician leadership. Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition 2010 34:6 Suppl 30s-39s

Merritt RJ, Goldsmith AH.  Scientific, economic, regulatory, and ethical challenges of bringing science-based pediatric nutrition products to the U.S. market and ensuring their availability for patients.  JPEN 2014;38 (Supplement 2):17S-34S

Goodhue CJ, Demeter NE, Burke RV, Toor KT, Upperman JS, Merritt RJ. Mixed methods pilot study:  Disaster preparedness of families with children followed in an intestinal rehabilitation clinic.  Nutrition in Clinical Practice 2016 Apr;31(2):257-65

Research

Intestinal Rehabilitation
Reducing and managing of complications of parenteral nutrition
Use of intravenous fish oil in children with intestinal failure associated liver disease
Feeding problems in children with intestinal failure