Dr. Helen A. Merritt, Curriculum Vitae
| Helen A. Merritt, M.D. | |
| Mailing Address | Eyesthetica 1513 South Grand Ave Suite 200, Los Angeles, CA 90015 |
| Office Locations | 1513 South Grand Ave Suite 200, Los Angeles, CA 90015 3400 Lomita Blvd Suite 401, Torrance, CA 90505 |
| Phone | Office 213-451-6824 x1004 |
| Cell | 214-450-4503 |
| helen@eyesthetica.com | |
| Language Fluency | English, Spanish |
| Predoctoral Education | |
| Medical: | The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Medical School, Doctor of Medicine, May 2011 |
| Pre-Medical: | The University of Texas at Austin, Bachelor of the Arts, Biology, May 2007 Vanderbilt University, College of Arts and Sciences, August 2002 - May 2004 |
| Postdoctoral Education | |
| Fellowship: | Eyesthetica and the USC Roski Eye Institute, Oculofacial Plastic Surgery, July 2015 – July 2017 |
| Residency: | The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Ruiz Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, July 2012 – June 2015 |
| Internship: | The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Austin Regional Programs, Transitional Year Residency Program, June 2011- June 2012 |
| APPOINTMENTS | |
| Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at the Keck School of Medicine of USC | |
| Professional Society Memberships | |
| 2015-present | American Society of Oculoplastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Member |
| 2012- present | American Academy of Ophthalmology, Member |
| 2010 | Alpha Omega Alpha, The University of Texas Medical School at Houston |
| 2007 | Phi Beta Kappa, The University of Texas at Austin |
| Honors and awards | |
| 2015 | Award for Most Outstanding Resident Research Presentation, The University of Texas Medical School at Houston |
| 2013 | Barry Uhr Memorial Prize in Comprehensive Ophthalmology, First Prize, Texas Ophthalmological Association Podium Presentation |
| 2011 | Outstanding Student in Clinical Rotations, The University of Texas Medical School at Houston |
| 2007 | Distinguished College Scholar, The University of Texas at Austin |
| Local and National Service | |
| 2015 | Advocacy Ambassador, AAO Congressional Advocacy Day and Mid-Year Forum, Washington D.C. |
| 2014 | Advocacy Ambassador, AAO Congressional Advocacy Day and Mid-Year Forum, Washington D.C. |
| 2013 | Advocacy Ambassador, AAO Congressional Advocacy Day and Mid-Year Forum, Washington D.C. |
| Current Research Projects | |
| 1 | Merritt H, Samimi DB, Dresner SC. The modified skin muscle flap for lower eyelid blepharoplasty. |
| 2 | Merritt H, Dresner SC. From enucleation to evisceration and back again: a history and editorial of how we remove the eye. |
| 3 | Merritt H, Burnstine MA. Skin and canthal-preserving entropion repair. Submitted for publication. |
| 4 | Burnstine MA, Gavrila J, Merritt H, Erb M, Samimi, DB, Dresner, SC. Effects of government regulatory changes on reimbursement for ophthalmology consultations at a level II trauma center in Los Angeles. |
| 5 | Merritt H, Pfeiffer M, Richani K, Phillips M. Concurrent ocular trauma in the setting of acute orbital fracture. |
| Publications | |
| 1 | Merritt H. Silent Sinus Syndrome. Review. EyeWiki. Nov 2013. http://eyewiki.org/Silent_Sinus_Syndrome. |
| 2 | Merritt H, Bakhoum, MF, Sniegowski, M, and Esmaeli, B. A 66-year-old woman with extensive conjunctival melanosis. Digit J Ophthalmol. 2014 May 8;20(2):32-4. PMID: 24821131 |
| 3 | Merritt H, Sniegowski M, and Esmaeli B. Merkel cell carcinoma of the eyelid and periocular region. Cancers (Basel). 2014 May 9;6(2):1128-37. PMID: 24821131 |
| 4 | Yin V, Merritt H. Warnek CL, Esmaeli B. Number of excisions required to obtain clear surgical margins and prognostic value of AJCC T category for patients with eyelid melanoma. Br J Ophthalmol. 2014 Jul 22. PMID: 25053759 |
| 5 | Yin VT, Merritt H, Esmaeli B. Targeting EGFR and sonic hedgehog pathways for locally advanced eyelid and periocular carcinomas. World Journal of Clinical Cases. 2014 Sep 16;2(9):432-8. Review. PMID: 25232546 |
| 6 | Merritt H. Evisceration. Review. EyeWiki. Nov 2014 http://eyewiki.org/Evisceration. |
| 7 | Pfeiffer ML, Merritt H. Enucleation. Review EyeWiki. Nov 2014 http://eyewiki.aao.org/Enucleation. |
| 8 | Merritt H, Yin VT, Pfeiffer ML, Wang W, Sniegowski M, Esmaeli B. Treatment challenges with benign bone tumors of the orbit. Ocul Oncol and Path. 2015; 1:111-120. |
| 9 | Yin VT, Merritt H, Sniegowski M, and Esmaeli B. Eyelid and ocular surface carcinoma: diagnosis and management. Clin Dermatol. 2015 Mar-Apr;33(2):159-69. PMID: 25704936 |
| 10 | Merritt H, Pfeiffer ML. Phillips ME, Richani K. Erdheim-Chester Disease with orbital involvement: case report and ophthalmic literature review. Orbit 2016 Jun 20:1-6. PMID: 27322549 |
| 11 | Pfeiffer ML. Hacopian A, Merritt H, Phillips ME, Richani K. Complete Vision Loss following Orbital Cellulitis Secondary to Acute Dacryocystitis. Case Reports in Ophthalmological Medicine Volume 2016 (2016), Article ID 9630698. PMID: 27803829. |
| 12 | Merritt H, Pfeiffer ML. Phillips ME, Richani K. Enucleation versus evisceration in patients with Sturge-Weber Syndrome. Orbit. 2017 Feb 1:1-4. PMID: 28146369. |
| Presentations | |
| 1 | Nakra T, Stanciu N, Connor M, Merritt H, Qasiem N. Transoral filler injections to the tear trough and midface. (Poster) ASOPRS 2011 Fall Scientific Symposium. |
| 2 | Merritt J, Merritt H, Corona J. Ectropion repair combining pedicle flap rotation with horizontal lid shortening and Quickert sutures. (Poster) ASOPRS 2011 Fall Scientific Symposium. |
| 3 | Merritt H, Merritt J, Corona J. Frontalis fascia suspension with a large, curved general surgical needle. (Poster) ASOPRS 2011 Fall Scientific Symposium. |
| 4 | Merritt H. Esmaeli, B. Case Report: Late metastasis of sebaceous carcinoma. (Podium Presentation) MD Anderson 2013 Orbital Oncology Conference. |
| 5 | Merritt H, Merritt J. Ectropion repair combining pedicle flap rotation with horizontal lid shortening and Quickert Sutures; Case Series Update. (Podium Presentation) TexMed 2013/ Texas Ophthalmological Association Annual Meeting. |
| 6 | Merritt H, Wang N. Management decisions with conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma. (Podium presentation) Women in Ophthalmology 2013 Spring Symposium. |
| 7 | Yin V, Warneke C, Merritt H, Esmaeli B. Surgical margins for eyelid melanoma and prognostic value of AJCC T designation. (Poster) ASOPRS 2013 Fall Scientific Symposium. |
| 8 | Merritt H, Merritt J. Canalicular reconstruction with an “open sky” approach utilizing the pigtail probe. (Podium Presentation) ASOPRS 2013 Fall Scientific Symposium. |
| 9 | Yin V, Merritt H, Wang W, Esmaeli B. Treatment challenges for benign mesenchymal tumors of the orbit. (Poster). ESOPRS 2014 Annual Meeting. |
| 10 | Merritt H. Pfeiffer ML. Esmaeli, B. Case Report: Bilateral festoons secondary to Pemtrexed chemotherapy. (Podium Presentation) MD Anderson 2015 Orbital Oncology Conference. |
| 11 | Merritt H, Pfeiffer ML, Esmaeli, B. Case Report: Cicatricial ectropion secondary to mycosis fungoides. (Podium Presentation) MD Anderson 2015 Orbital Oncology Conference. |
| 12 | Pfeiffer ML, Merritt H, Richani K, Phillips ME. Clinical and Radiographic Features of Extraocular Muscle Entrapment. Poster Presentation) 2015 ARVO May 3-7, 2015, Denver, Colorado |
| 13 | Merritt H, Kellaway J, Chuang AZ, Blieden. Trends of Outpatient Follow-up after Traumatic Lid Laceration Repair. (Poster) 2015 ARVO May 3-7, 2015, Denver, Colorado |
| 14 | Merritt H, Kellaway J, Chuang AZ, Blieden. Trends of Outpatient Follow-up after Traumatic Lid Laceration Repair. (Poster Presentation) University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston – Memorial Hermann TMC House Staff Research Day. (Poster) Houston, TX. May 2015. |
| 15 | Pfeiffer ML, Merritt H, Richani K, Phillips ME. Clinical and Radiographic Features of Extraocular Muscle Entrapment. (Podium presentation) ASOPRS 2015 Fall Scientific Symposium. |
| 16 | Crowell EL, Pfeiffer ML, Merritt H, Adesina O, Phillips M, Richani K. Canalicular system eyelid laceration repair with MASTERKA: a case series. Memorial Hermann TMC House Staff Research Day. (Poster) Houston, TX. May 2016. |
| 17 | Merritt H. Dresner SC. Rate of Exposure after Enucleation with Oblique Muscle Coverage over a Porous Polyethylene Implant. (Poster Presentation). ASOPRS 2016 Fall Scientific Symposium. |
| 18 | Merritt H. Burnstine MA. Canthal-Preserving Entropion Repair. (Video Presentation). ASOPRS 2016 Fall Scientific Symposium. |
| 19 | Merritt H. Considerations in Floppy Eyelid Syndrome: Old and New Perspectives. Podium Presentation. 2017 USC Oculoplastic Surgery Subspecialty CME Conference. |