Dr. Merchant's clinical and research interests focus on occupational lung diseases and rural health. His research has examined epidemiological aspects of a variety of occupational lung disease including those arising from exposure to cotton dust, coal mine dust, asbestos dust, silica, irritant gases such as chlorine and diesel emissions, and a number of organic dusts including animal danders, grain dust, and silage. His particular interest has been in the area of reversible airway diseases with an emphasis on the epidemiology of asthma and related occupational lung diseases. In the area of rural health, his interests include assessment and prevention of childhood asthma, agricultural illnesses and injuries, and rural health care delivery and policy.

Honors, Awards, and Organizations

• Alpha Omega Alpha
• American College of Radiology Task force on Pneumoconiosis
• American Lung Association
• American Occupational Medicine Association
• American Public Health Association
• American Thoracic Society
• Edward Livingston Trudeau Fellowship
• Environmental Health Services Council, National Advisory Committee
• Health Legislative Fellow, United States Senate
• International Association of Occupational Health, Permanent Commission Vegetable and Organic Dust, Chairman
• National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health;; Chair, Board of Scientific Counselors
• Society for Occupational and Environmental Health, President
• United States Public Health Service, Commendation Medal
• Institute of Medicine

Medical School:
The University of Iowa

Graduate School:
Epidemiology,
University of North Carolina

Residency:
Cleveland Metropolitan
General Hospital

Fellowship:
Duke University

Special Training:
Trudeau Fellowship, Cardiothoracic Institute,
Brompton Hospital, London