Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
1969-1970, 1972-1974
Degree: B.S. Medical Sciences - August 1975
Honors: Summa Cum Laude

Medical School
- University of Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia, 1974-1977
Degree: M.D., May 1977

Internship - General Surgery
- Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
Hershey, Pennsylvania, 1977-1978

Residency - General Surgery
- Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
Hershey, Pennsylvania, 1978-1980

Residency - Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
- Southern Illinois University School of Medicine
Springfield, Illinois, 1980-1983

Fellowship - Microsurgery
- Southern Illinois University School of Medicine
Springfield, Illinois, 1980-1981

Medicine
- Diplomat of the National Board of Medical Examiners
Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
- Diplomat of The American Board of Plastic Surgery, November, 1984
Hand Surgery
- Certification of Added Qualification in Surgery of the Hand, September 1992

Laser Surgery
- Certified COHERENT Laser - December 1995

Ultrasonic Liposuction
- ASPRS Regional Workshop, Santa Fe, NM 1998

Phi Beta Kappa - 1974

Operation Smile Lifetime Volunteer Achievement Award - April 2010

Community Builder Award 1999 - presented by Masons of the Commonwealth of Virginia

Carswell Scholar - Wake Forest University
1972-1973 and 1973-1974

B.S. - Wake Forest University
Summa Cum Laude - August 1975

Frank Patton Award
Illinois Chapter - American College of Surgeons
Peoria, Illinois - March 1982

Best Paper - Junior Research Division
Midwestern Association of Plastic Surgeons
Rockford, Illinois - March 1982

First Prize - Resident Essay Contest
American Association for Hand Surgery
Maui, Hawaii - October 9, 1982

Third Place - Patton Award Competition
Illinois Chapter - American College of Surgeons
Rockford, Illinois - March 1983

Best Paper - Junior Research Division
Midwestern Association of Plastic Surgeons
Lake Geneva - Wisconsin - May 1983

Virginia - Since June 30, 1983

Member - Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Served full-time mission in France and Switzerland (1970-1972)
Bishop Churchland & Portsmouth Wards (1985-1988)
President of the Chesapeake, Virginia Stake (1988-1997)
Young Men's President, Bennett's Creek Ward (1997-1998)
1st Counselor, Virginia Richmond Mission Presidency (1998-1999)
Young Men's President, Chesapeake, Virginia Stake (1999-2001)
Stake Mission President, Chesapeake, Virginia Stake (2001-2002)
Stake High Council, Chesapeake, Virginia Stake (2002 - 2003)
Bishop of the Bennett’s Creek Ward (2003-2005)
President - The France Toulouse Mission (2005 - 2008)
1st Counselor, Presidency – Chesapeake Young Single Adult Branch (2008 – present)

Music: Piano
Sports: Scuba Golf, skiiing, basketball, jogging

Maryview Medical Center - courtesy
Sentara Obici Hospital - Active
Harbour View Ambulatory Center – Active

American Association for Hand Surgery
American Society of Plastic Surgeons
American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery
World Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery
Fellow American College of Surgeons

Eastern Virginia Medical School
- Assistant Professor - Department of Surgery 1983-2005
Operation Smile International
- Acting Chief Medical Officer 2001- 2002
- Director of Microsurgery 1990 - present
Southern Virginia College
- Board of Trustees, May 13, 1996 - January 2000

Acting Chief Medical Officer: May 15, 2001 - March 22, 2002
Director, Microsurgery Programs
Team Member - Naga City, Philippines January, 1985
Team Member - Naga City, Philippines January 1986
Team Member - Naga City, Philippines, January 1987
Team Leader - Nairobi, Kenya, September 1987
Team Leader - Naga City, Philippines, January, 1988
Team Leader - Nairobi, Kenya, October 1988
Team Leader - Hanoi, Vietnam, February 1989
Medical Director - Nairobi, Kenya; Accra, Ghana; Monrovia, Liberia September, 1989
Medical Director - Hanoi, Vietnam, February 1990
Team Leader - Nairobi, Kenya, September, 1990
Team Leader - Nairobi, Kenya, September, 1991
Team Leader Microsurgery - Hanoi, Vietnam, November, 1991
Team Leader - Bucharest, Romania, September, 1992
Team Leader Microsurgery - Hanoi, Vietnam, January, 1993
Team Leader - Bucharest, Romania, September, 1993
Team Leader Microsurgery - Hanoi, Vietnam, January, 1994
Team Leader Microsurgery - Hanoi, Vietnam, March, 1995
Team Leader Microsurgery - Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, March, 1996
Team Leader Microsurgery - HCMC, Hanoi, Vietnam, March, 1997
Team Leader Microsurgery - Hanoi, Vietnam, March, 1998
"World Journey of Hope" Morocco, March 1999
Team Leader Microsurgery - Hanoi, Vietnam, November 1999
Team Leader Microsurgery - Hanoi, Vietnam, 2002
Team Leader Microsurgery - Hanoi, Vietnam, 2004
20th Anniversary Medical Mission – Hanoi, Vietnam, 2009
Team Leader – Hinche, Haiti Earthquake Relief – February 2010

1. Merrell, J.C.; Miller, .SH.; Davis, T.S.; Graham, W.P. III: Frontal Sinus Fracture, Contemporary Orthopaedic, April 1979
2. Merrell, J.C.; Petro, J.A.; Miller, S.H.: Osseous Foreign Body Reaction in the Hand, Annals of Plastic Surgery, February 1980
3. Merrell, J.C.; Russell, R.C.; Zook, E.G.: Non-suppurative Tenosynovitis Secondary to Foreign Body Migration, Journal of Hand Surgery, May 1983
4. Mathur, A.; Merrell, J.C.; Russell, R.C.; Zook, E.G.: A Scanning Electron Microscopy Evaluation of Peripheral Nerve Regeneration, Scanning Electron Microscopy: An international journal of SEM-related techniques and applications, July 1983
5. Merrell, J.C.; Russell, R.C.; Zook, E.G.: Cuffing Techniques in Microarterial Surgery, Journal of Hand Surgery, 1984
6. Russell, R.C.; Guy, R.J.; Zook, E.G.; Merrell, J.C.: Extremity Reconstruction Using the Free Deltoid Flap, Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, October 1985
7. Merrell, J.C.; Zook, E.G.; Russell, R.C.: Polyglycolic Acid Tubes as a Conduit for Nerve Regeneration, Annals of Plastic Surgery, July 1986
8. Merrell, J.C.; Russell, R.C.; Zook, E.G.: Free Microneurovascular Gracilis Muscle Transfer for Enterostomal Construction and Control, Annals of Plastic Surgery, July 1986 9. Sadove, R; Merrell, J.C.: Split Rectus Abdominous Free Muscle Transfer, Annals of Plastic Surgery, March 1986
10. Russell, R.C.; Upton, J; Merrell, J.C.: Free Flap Donor Site - Anatomical, Functional & Technical Considerations, C.V. Mosby Inaugural Publication of ASPRS Instructional Courses, Vol. 1, 1988
11. Upton, J.; Ferraro, N., Healy, G., Khouri, R., Merrell, J.C.: The Use of Pre-fabricated Fascial Flaps for Lining of Oral and Nasal Cavities, Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery; October 1994
12. Merrell, J. Craig, Nguyen Viet Tien, MD, Dennis P. Orgill, MD, PhD; Introduction of Microsurgery in Vietnam by a Charitable Organization: A 15-Year Experience, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery; vol. 119, number 4, April 2007

1. Free Microneurovascular Gracilis Muscle Transfer for Abdominal Wall Enterostomal Sphincter Construction; Plastic Surgery Research Council; Springfield, Illinois; May 22, 1981
2. Cuffing Techniques in Microvascular Surgery; Austrian Society of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeons; Innsbruck, Austria, September 23, 1981
3. Free Microneurovascular Gracilis Muscle Transfer for Abdominal Wall Enterostomal Sphincter Construction and Control; Austrian Society of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeons; Innsbruck, Austria; september 24, 1981
4. Free Microneurovascular Gracilis Muscle Transfer for Abdominal Wall Enterostomal Sphincter Construction and Control; Illinois Chapter - American College of Surgeons; Peoria, Illinois Winner - Frank Patton Award - March 5, 1982
5. Polyglycolic Acid Tubes as a Conduit for Nerve Regeneration; Plastic Surgery Research Council; La Jolla California; March 12, 1982
6. Free Microneurovascular Gracilis Muscle Transfer for Abdominal Wall Enterostomal Sphincter Construction and Control; Midwestern Association of Plastic Surgeons; Rockford, Illinois Winner - Best Paper Junior Research Division; March 26, 1982
7. Wound Care and Replantation Surgery; Trauma and Critical Care Symposium; Chicago, Illinois; September 25, 1982
8. Polyglycolic Acid Tubes as a Conduit for Nerve Regeneration; American Association for Hand Surgery; Maui, Hawaii Winner - First Prize Resident Essay Contest; October 9, 1982
9. Free Microneurovascular Gracilis Muscle Transfer for Abdominal Wall Enterostomal Sphincter Construction and Control; American Society for Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Conference; Anaheim, California; March 5, 1983
10. Sensate Soft Tissue Cover of Complex Hand Injuries Using the Deltoid Free Flap; American Society for Surgery of the Hand; First American Residents and Fellows Hand Surgery Conference; Anaheim, California; March 5, 1983
11. Polyglycolic Acid Tubes as a Conduit for Nerve Regeneration; Illinois Chapter - American College of Surgeons; Rockford, Illinois; Third Place - Frank Patton Award; March 20, 1983
12. Sensate Soft Tissue Cover of Complex Hand Injuries Using the Deltoid Free Flap; American Society for Surgery of the hand; First American Residents and Fellows Hand Surgery Conference; Anaheim, California; March 5, 1983
13. Farm Injuries; Illinois Combines Scientific Assembly; Chicago, Illinois; April 15, 1983
14. Microsurgery Updates; Midwestern Association of Plastic Surgery Nurses; St. Louis, Missouri; April 29, 1983
15. Free Microneurovascular Gracilis Muscle Transfer for Abdominal Wall Enterostomal Sphincter Construction and Control; Senior Residents Meeting; Columbus, Ohio; May 2, 1983
16. Polyglycolic Acid Tubes as a Conduit for Nerve Regeneration; Senior Residents Meeting; Columbus, Ohio; May 2, 1983
17. Polyglycolic Acid Tubes as a Conduit for Nerve Regeneration; Midwestern Association of Plastic Surgeons; Lake Geneva, Wisconsin; Winner - Best Paper Junior Research Division; May 13, 1983
18. Free Microneurovascular Gracilis Muscle Transfer for Abdominal Wall Enterostomal Sphincter Construction and Control; International Society of Reconstructive Microsurgery - Seventh Symposium; New York, New York; June 21, 1983
19. Microsurgery in Tidewater, Virginia; Southampton Memorial Hospital; Franklin, Virginia; October 17, 1983
20. Microsurgery in Tidewater, Virginia; Portsmouth Academy of Medicine; Portsmouth, Virginia; November 11, 1983
21. Sensory Free Flaps; Symposium: Clinical Applications of the Recent Advances in Plastic and Reconstructive Microsurgery; Snowmass, Colorado; March 10-17, 1984
22. Spare Parts Replantation and Free Tissue Transfer Monitoring; Symposium: Clinical Applications of the Recent Advances in Plastic and Reconstructive Microsurgery; Snowmass, Colorado; March 10-17, 1984
23. Restoring Function to the Injured Hand; Guest Lecturer; American Society of Plastic & Reconstructive Nurses; Las Vegas, Nevada; October 13, 1984
24. Re-implantation of Fingers; Scientific Sessions; Annual Meeting of the Southern Physicians; Norfolk, Virginia; May 3, 1985
25. Skin Flaps, Microsurgery Panel Lecture; Ninth Annual Flap Dissection Workshop; Eastern Virginia Medical School; Norfolk, Virginia May 28, 1985
26. Free Flap Donor Site - Anatomical, Functional and Technical Considerations; 1985 Instructional Courses; ASPRS Annual Meeting; Kansas City, Kansas; October 27 - November 1, 1985
27. Free Flap Donor Site - Anatomical, Functional and Technical Considerations; 1986 Instructional Courses; ASPRS Annual Meeting; Los Angeles, California; October 27-31, 1986
28. The A-Team: Key to Productivity; Making a Difference: A Workshop for International Health Professionals; Plastic Surgery Research Foundation; San Diego, California; September 18-20, 1986
29. Free Flap Donor Sites - Anatomical, Functional and Technical Considerations; 1987 Instructional Courses, ASPRS Annual Meeting; Atlanta, Georgia; November 8-13, 1987
30. Free Flap Donor Sites - Anatomical, Functional and Technical Considerations; 1988 Instructional Courses: ASPRS Annual Meeting; Toronto, Canada; October 3-6, 1988
31. Introduction - Founder's Lecture; American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery Annual Meeting; Marco Island, Florida; January 1995
32. Opportunities for Voluntary Outreach Programs in Microsurgery; American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery Annual Meeting; Tucson, Arizona, January 1996
33. Introduction of Microsurgery in Vietnam by a Charitable Organization: A 15 Year Experience, American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery Annual Meeting; Porto Rico, January 2005.

1. Coverage of Difficult Soft Tissue Defects; Thirty-eighth Annual Meeting American Society for Surgery of the Hand; Anaheim, California; March 8, 1983
2. Microsurgery and Upper Extremity Tutorial Sessions; Eighth Annual Flap Dissection Workshop; Eastern Virginia Medical School; Norfolk, Virginia; June 1, 1984
3. Post-Mastectomy Breast Reconstruction; Maryview Hospital Breast Committee; Maryview Hospital; Portsmouth, Virginia; October 3, 1984
4. Lower Extremity; Tutorial Sessions, Ninth Annual Flap Dissection Workshop; Eastern Virginia Medical School; Norfolk, Virginia; May 29, 1985
5. Implant Surgery for the Hand and Upper Extremity; Moderator; The Grand Rapids Sixteenth Annual Symposium on Implant Surgery for the Hand and Upper Extremity; Eastern Virginia Medical School; Norfolk, Virginia; September 25, 1985
6. Liposuction; Seminar: Recent Advances in Cosmetic Surgery - Achieving "The Right Image"; Plastic Surgery Specialists, Inc.; Norfolk, Virginia; March 30, 1987

1. Plastic Surgery Research Council; Hershey, Pennsylvania; April, 1980
2. American Society for Surgery of the Hand; Thirty-sixth Annual Meeting; Las Vegas, Nevada; February, 1981
3. Plastic Surgery Research Council; Springfield, Illinois; May, 1981
4. Austrian, Swiss & German Societies of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery - Combined Meeting - Innsbruck, Austria; September 1981
5. Plastic Surgery Research Council; La Jolla, California; February, 1982
6. Illinois Chapter - American College of Surgeons; Annual Meeting; Peoria, IL; March, 1982
7. American Association of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeons; Annual Meeting; Colorado Springs, Colorado; April, 1982
8. Trauma & Critical Care Symposium; Chicago, Illinois, September 1982 (**)
9. American Association for Hand Surgery; Maui, Hawaii; October, 1982
10. American Society for Surgery of the Hand; Thirty-eighth Annual Meeting; Anaheim, California; March 1983
11. American Society for Surgery of the Hand; First Annual Residents and Fellows Hand Surgery Conference; Anaheim, California; March 1983
12. Illinois Combined Scientific Assemble; Chicago, Illinois; April 1983 (**)
13. Illinois Chapter - American College of Surgeons; Annual Meeting; Rockford, Illinois; April 1983
14. Midwestern Association of Plastic Surgeons; Annual Meeting; Lake Geneva, Wisconsin; May 1983
15. Senior Residents Meeting; Columbus, Ohio; May 1983
16. Seventh Symposium - International Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery; New York; June 1983
17. Eighth Symposium - International Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery; New York; June 1984
18. American Society for Surgery of the Hand; Thirty-ninth Annual Meeting; Atlanta, Georgia; February 1984
19. Midwestern Association of Plastic Surgical Nurses; Annual Meeting; St. Louis, Missouri; April 1984 (**)
20. American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons; Annual Meeting; Las Vegas, Nevada; October 9 - 13, 1984
21. American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery; Inaugural Meeting; Las Vegas, Nevada; January 18 - 19, 1985
22. American Society for Surgery of the Hand; Fortieth Annual Meeting; Las Vegas, Nevada; January 21 - 23, 1985
23. American Association for Hand Surgery; Annual Meeting; Kansas City, Kansas; October 24 - 27, 1985
24. American Society of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeons; Annual Meeting; Kansas City, Kansas; October 27 - November 1, 1985
25. American Society of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeons; Annual Meeting; Los Angeles, California; October 27 - 31, 1986
26. American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery; Annual Meeting; Baltimore, Maryland; September 17 - 19, 1988
27. American Society for Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeons; Annual Meeting; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; October 3 - 6, 1988
28. Volunteering Overseas - RSVP; Plastic Surgery Educational Foundation, San Diego, California; March 1990
29. American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery, 6th Annual Meeting; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; September 1990
30. American Association for Hand Surgery; Annual Meeting; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; September 1990
31. International Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery, Germany; September 1991
32. American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery, 7th Annual Meeting, Orlando, Florida; September 1991.
33. American Association for Hand Surgery, 23rd Annual Meeting, Cancun, Mexico; December, 1992
34. American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery, 9th Annual Meeting, Kansas City, Kansas; September 1993
35. Volunteering Overseas - RSVP; Plastic Surgery Educational Foundation, San Diego, California; September 1994
36. American Society for Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeons, 63rd Annual Meeting, San Diego, California; September 1994
37. American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery, 10th Annual Meeting, Marco Island, Florida; January 1995
38. American Association for Hand Surgery, 25th Annual Meeting, Marco Island, Florida; January 1995
39. American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery Meeting, 11th Annual Meeting, Tucson, Arizona, January 1996. (attended as member of faculty)
40. Medicare Coding Symposium, Washington, DC; January 1998
41. Breast Surgery & Body Contouring Symposium, Santa Fe, New Mexico; September 1998.
42. Ultrasound-Assisted Lipoplasty, ASPRS Regional Workshop, Santa Fe, New Mexico, September 1998
43. RSVP Medical Volunteer Committee Meeting, ASPS, Orlando, Florida, November 2001
44. American Association for Hand Surgery, Annual Meeting, Cancun, Mexico, January 2002.
45. American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery, Annual Meeting, Cancun, Mexico, January 2002.
46. American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery, Annual Meeting, Puerto Rico, January 2005.
47. American Association for Hand Surgery, Annual Meeting, Puerto Rico, January 2005

As a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Merrell has completed more than 150 hours of Continuing Medical Education every three years. His latest cycle completed in December 2007 included 241 hours of plastic surgical education.

Dr. Merrell has presented over 250 educational lectures in this community on a variety of topics dealing with Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, and Operation Smile International. His work has been featured on WAVY Channel 10, and WTKR Channel 3. He has participated in WAVY-10's program - "Doctors on Call". He has provided free skin cancer screening to thousands of Tidewater residents through a number of medical, religious and civic sponsoring organizations. A list is available upon request.

Dr. Merrell came to the Tidewater Area in 1983 to join Plastic Surgery Specialists, Inc. He continued to practice in this area with Plastic Surgery Associates, Inc. beginning in 1990. In 2000, along with Dr. Adam Billet, Plastic Surgery Associates of Tidewater, Inc. was formed. Dr. Merrells active practice in Hampton Roads was interrupted by a three year sabbatical during which he served a full-time mission for his Church in southern France.