Dr. John Lawrence Merritt, MD, FACP
Physiatrist (Physical Medicine) | Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
13000 Bruce B Downs Blvd #128 Sci Center Tampa FL, 33612Rating
4/5
About
A physician, researcher, and teacher, John L. Merritt MD, FACP, is a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician and President of RehabMed South, Inc. and NeuroRehab One in Tampa, FL. He is an expert in neurorehabilitation and a board-certified physician in spinal cord injury medicine, brain injury medicine, internal medicine, and physical medicine and rehabilitation. Equipped with 45+ years of clinical, academic, and research experience, Dr. Merritt has also served as an expert witness for over 25 years. He testified in challenging cases involving adult and pediatric brain injury and spinal cord injury as well as catastrophic injuries and multi-trauma. Experienced in developing, writing, and reviewing Life Care Plans, Dr. Merritt has authored over 500 Life Care Plans. A graduate of the Medical University of South Carolina, he initially specialized in internal medicine at Huntington Memorial Hospital and subsequently trained in physical medicine and rehabilitation at the prestigious Mayo Clinic. Dr. Merritt attained the coveted title of Fellow of the American College of Physicians.
Dr. John Lawrence Merritt, MD, FACP's Videos
Education and Training
Medical University of South Carolina’s College of Medicine MD 1971
Board Certification
American Board of Internal Medicine - Certified in Internal Medicine
American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation - Certified in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation - Certified in Brain Injury Medicine
American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation - Certified in Spinal Cord Injury Medicine
Provider Details
Dr. John Lawrence Merritt, MD, FACP's Expert Contributions
Spotlight Video | 5 Signs of a Serious Knee Injury | John L. Merritt, MD, FACP
Knee injuries can be painful and debilitating, often requiring immediate medical attention. Recognizing the signs of a serious knee injury is crucial in order to prevent further damage and promote effective treatment. Here are five key signs to watch out for:...
Spotlight Video | Epidural Injections for Pain Relief | John L. Merritt, MD, FACP
John L. Merritt, MD, FACP is an Established Physiatrist at RehabMed South in Tampa, Florida.Dr. John L. Merritt is an experienced physiatrist who treats patients at RehabMed South, located in Tampa, Florida. He is board-certified in internal medicine by the American Board of Internal Medicine. He...
How do I get rid of pain in between my shoulder blades?
This can only be answered after a thorough physical examination to determine the cause. Recommend seeing a physiatrist, a rehab doctor, to help you diagnose and treat the problem. READ MORE
Do you need physical therapy after a broken foot?
After the fracture has healed, I would recommend evaluation by an experienced therapist to teach you custom excerises to restore motion, strength and proper body mechanics to prevent future post-traumatic arthritis. READ MORE
Is it OK to lift weights with scoliosis?
Yes. But the details are important. The degree of scoliosis, the location, as well as how much weight, and the lifting techniques. It is important to maintain good muscle strength in legs, arms and body, as weaker limbs and truck will ultimately cause more stress on the spine. See a physiatrist, a rehab doctor, to help guide you through your rehabilitation. Keep well. READ MORE
Can a physical therapist help with hip pain?
Yes. But only after a through examination as to what is causing the hip pain. Recommend seeing a physiatrist, a rehab doctor to arrange the right physical therapy. In the meantime, the best help for hip pain is a hiking stick (or cane) used on the opposite side. This will reduce the hip loading by up to 30%. READ MORE
Can the brain repair itself after a stroke?
There are three phases to recovery after a stroke or other acute brain injuries. First is recovering from the acute event, which includes cell damage, edema, chemical imbalances. This is usually a few days to a week or so. Second is where cells and nerve connections are damaged, but not completely destroyed or dead. These injured cells and axons can recover, but over several weeks usually. Thirdly, other cells, nerve centers and brain regions began to take over for some lost functions. This is called brain plasticity and occurs over many months to years. This third event is the challenge of rehabilitation. It can be facilitated by trained therapies, including many, many repetitive therapeutic activities. Physical, occupational speech therapies can help select which activities are optimal. But the point is it takes a lot of work, persistence and effort to retrain new nerve connections. I see people improving two to three or more years after injury, in those who apply these techniques. Most people, however, drop out of this early and do not achieve their potential. Thanks for the question. John L. Merritt, MD, FACP READ MORE
Areas of expertise and specialization
Faculty Titles & Positions
- Clinical Professor of Medicine and Neurology University of South Florida -
- Professor, Emeritus: Departments of Medicine and Neurology: Spinal Cord Injury and Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Morsani College of Medicine. University of South Florida, Tampa, FL -
- President RehabMed South -
- Professor Mayo Clinic, the University of California-Irvine, Marquette University, the Medical College of Wisconsin, and the University of South Florida -
- Clinical Professor of Medicine and Neurology University of South Florida -
Awards
- Best Doctors in America in the Tampa Bay Metro region (2009-2013) Year
Professional Memberships
- Fellow of the American College of Physicians
- American Academy of Physician Life Care Planners
- American Board of Disability Analysts
- International Association of Life Care Planners
- International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals
- American College of Physicians
- Florida Medical Association
- Southern Medical Association
- Sigma Xi Research Society
- World Federation for NeuroRehabilitation
- American Paraplegia Society, Academy of Spinal Cord Injury Professionals
- International Society for Stem Cell Research
- Neurocritical Care Society
- International Society of Physical Medical Medicine & Rehabilitation
Professional Society Memberships
- International Society of Physical Medical Medicine & Rehabilitation Neurocritical Care Society Fellow of the American College of Physicians American Academy of Physician Life Care Planners American Board of Disability Analysts International Association of Life Care Planners International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals International Society for Stem Cell Research American Paraplegia So
Areas of research
Dr. Merritts research interests include neuro-regeneration, olfactory mucosa autografts, stem cell therapies, spinal cord injury acute and chronic outcomes; prevention of urinary tract infections; prevention of urinary tract infection in spinal cord injury, pressure ulcer prevention and management (respiratory intervention in quadriplegia); energy expenditure in paraplegia: metabolic changes in chronic SCI; ethics, beginning and end of life issues, palliative care; amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, outcome prediction and management; and life expectancy and outcomes in spinal cord injury.Dr. John Lawrence Merritt, MD, FACP's Practice location
RehabMed South
13000 Bruce B Downs Blvd #128 Sci Center -Tampa, FL 33612Get Direction
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Media Releases
Get to know Physiatrist Dr. John Lawrence Merritt, who serves patients in Tampa, Florida.
Recognized as a board-certified physiatrist and an active researcher, teacher, and medical expert witness, Dr. Merritt is the President of RehabMed South in Tampa, Florida. His primary areas of expertise include life care planning, spinal cord injury, brain injury, and multiple trauma.
With over four decades of clinical and research experience, he has served as a Professor at the Mayo Clinic, the University of California-Irvine, Marquette University, the Medical College of Wisconsin, and the University of South Florida. He has also served as an expert witness in complex, challenging cases with brain injury, spinal cord injury, multi-trauma, and catastrophic injuries.
The doctor’s acclaimed career in medicine began in 1971 when he earned his medical degree from the Medical University of South Carolina’s College of Medicine in Charleston. He then went on to complete his residency in internal medicine at Huntington Memorial Hospital, followed by his residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester.
A Fellow of the American College of Physicians, he is board-certified in brain injury medicine, internal medicine, physical medicine and rehabilitation, and spinal cord medicine by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, which was established in 1947 as the certifying body for the field of physical medicine and rehabilitation under the American Board of Medical Specialties. He is also a Clinical Professor of Medicine and Neurology at the University of South Florida.
Physical medicine and rehabilitation, also known as physiatry and physiatrics, is a branch of medicine that aims to enhance and restore functional ability and quality of life to those with physical impairments or disabilities. Physiatrists treat a wide variety of medical conditions affecting the brain, spinal cord, nerves, bones, joints, ligaments, muscles, and tendons.
Elected Best Doctors in America in the Tampa Bay Metro region (2009-2013), Dr. Merritt’s research interests include neuro-regeneration, olfactory mucosa autografts, stem cell therapies, spinal cord injury acute and chronic outcomes; prevention of urinary tract infections; prevention of urinary tract infection in spinal cord injury, pressure ulcer prevention and management (respiratory intervention in quadriplegia); energy expenditure in paraplegia: metabolic changes in chronic SCI; ethics, beginning and end of life issues, palliative care; amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, outcome prediction and management; and life expectancy and outcomes in spinal cord injury.
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