All Press Releases for June 19, 2017

Dr. Frederick Merk Named a Lifetime Achiever by Marquis Who's Who

Dr. Frederick Merk has been endorsed by Marquis Who's Who as a leader in medical education and research



    MELROSE, MA, June 19, 2017 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Dr. Frederick Merk is a celebrated Marquis Who's Who biographee. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

Marquis Who's Who, the world's premier publisher of biographical profiles, is proud to name Dr. Merk a Lifetime Achiever. An accomplished listee, Dr. Merk celebrates many years' experience in his professional network, and has been noted for achievements, leadership qualities, and the credentials and successes he has accrued in his field.

MERK, FREDERICK BANNISTER, biomedical educator, researcher; b. Cambridge, Mass., Feb. 21, 1936; s. Frederick and Lois Alberta (Bannister) M.; m. Linda Jean Poole, Oct. 22, 1966 (dec. Dec. 1994); children: John Merk m. Ruth Anderson, child: Cassy, Dan Merk m. Laurie Frederick, children: Jason and Jennafer, Letty Bradford step daughter (adopted) m. John London, children: Zoe and Brady, step son Caith 'Threefires' Johnson, step daughter Nicole Johnson m. John Anguish, children: Finn and Oliver. m. Laura Ann Bradford, July 11, 1998 (div. 2012); m. Elizabeth A. Johnson, Dec. 29, 2014.

About Dr. Frederick Merk
Dr. Merk is Emeritus Professor of Pathology and Anatomy at the School of Medicine at Tufts University. His achievements include research on the biology of cells in target organs responding to hormones with emphasis on benign prostatic hypertrophy (enlargement) and prostate cancer.

He recalls two high points of his career:
"At the annual meeting of the American Society of Cell Biology (held in Boston), I gave a talk about my electron microscopic research on ovarian response to administered estrogen. This was early in my career. My wife and parents were present. There was a very positive response from the audience and I had good conversations with many cell biologists afterward . This included a job offer from the Chair of Cell Biology at a well known medical college in New York. My work impressed two colleagues in the Tufts Medical School Biochemistry and Pathology Departments. We collaborated and carried out NIH-supported research for the next 25 years."

"The other high point occurred years later at a Tufts Medical School commencement. I was teaching Clinical Anatomy and Pathology to 1st and 2nd year students. Each year the graduating class votes for the outstanding teachers in the clinical and basic sciences. I won the basic sciences award and was asked to lead the academic procession (carrying the symbolic mace of the Medical School). My wife, 2 sons and a cousin visiting from the Merk ancestral homeland (Bavaria, Germany) were there. From the podium I praised the class for their accomplishments and wished them happiness in their careers as physicians. Their response was a standing ovation!"

Dr. Merk achieved an AB from Harvard College in 1958 and a PhD from Boston University in 1971. Upon graduation, he served as an assistant professor of pathology at Boston University School of Medicine from 1972-1973 before heading to the Departments of Pathology and of Anatomy at Tufts University School of Medicine to serve as an associate professor from 1973-2002. Between 1974 and 2002. Dr. Merk was a lecturer in pathology and clinical anatomy as well as a cancer researcher at TUSM. During that time he also served as a facilitator of the Problem Based Learning Program, Admissions Committee, Student Wellness Committee and Lab Animal Care Committee. From 1978-1985 he was director of the Pathology Department's Research Electron Microscopy Facility at TUSM. Following retirement in 2002 he continued teaching Pathology and Clinical Anatomy on a part time basis until 2014.

Other positions Dr. Merk held include associate of the pathology department's electron microscopy facility at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, and researcher for the U.S. Army.

In recognition of his dedication to Tufts, Dr. Merk was the recipient of 17 citations from graduating classes for excellence in teaching and four citations as outstanding teacher of the year in the basic sciences. He also received the Distinguished Career in Teaching award from TUSM in 2002.

He continues to serve as a trustee of Grace United Methodist Church and the Audubon Society's Frederick and Paula Anna Markus Foundation, having previously served as trustee, (chairman) and lay representative to Annual Conference of Broadway United Methodist Church in Lynn, MA.

He is a member of the American Society for Cell Biology, Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, American Association of Anatomists, Microscopy Society of America. Boston Cancer Research Association, and Sigma Xi.

Dr. Merk has been featured in numerous Marquis publications, including Who's Who in Finance and Business, Who's Who in Finance and Industry, Who's Who in America, Who's Who in American Education, Who's Who in Medicine and Healthcare, Who's Who in Science and Engineering, Who's Who in the East and Who's Who in the World.

In recognition of outstanding contributions to his profession and the Marquis Who's Who community, Dr. Frederick Merk has been featured on the Marquis Who's Who Lifetime Achievers website. Please visit http://whoswholifetimeachievers.com/2017/03/13/frederick-merk/ to view this distinguished honor.

Dr. Merk has contributed more than 60 articles to professional journals. These include:

Merk FB, Botticelli CR, Albright JT. An intercellular response to estrogen by granulosa cells in the rat ovary; an electron microscope study. Endocrinology. 1972 Apr; 90(4):992-1007.

Merk FB, Albright JT, Botticelli CR. The fine structure of granulosa cell nexuses in rat ovarian follicles. Anat Rec. 1973 Jan; 175(1):107-2

Merk FB, McNutt NS. Nexus junctions between dividing and interphase granulosa cells of the rat ovary. J Cell Biol. 1972 Nov; 55(2):511-5.

Merk FB, Kwan PW, Leav I. Gap junctions in the myometrium of hypophysectomized estrogen-treated rats. Cell Biol Int Rep. 1980 Mar; 4(3):287-94.

Weinstein RS, Merk FB, Alroy J. The structure and function of intercellular junctions in cancer. Adv Cancer Res. 1976; 23:23-89.

Leav I, Merk FB, Ofner P, Goodrich G, Kwan PW, Stein BM, Sar M, Stumpf WE. Bipotentiality of response to sex hormones by the prostate of castrated or hypophysectomized dogs. Direct effects of estrogen. Am J Pathol. 1978 Oct; 93(1):69-92.

Merk FB, Ofner P, Kwan PW, Leav I, Vena RL. Ultrastructural and biochemical expressions of divergent differentiation in prostates of castrated dogs treated with estrogen and androgen. Lab Invest. 1982 Nov; 47(5):437-50.

Merk FB, Warhol MJ, Kwan PW, Leav I, Alroy J, Ofner P, Pinkus GS. Multiple phenotypes of prostatic glandular cells in castrated dogs after individual or combined treatment with androgen and estrogen. Morphometric, ultrastructural, and cytochemical distinctions. Lab Invest. 1986 Apr; 54(4):442-56.

Merk FB, Kwan PW, Spilman S, Terracio L, Douglas WH. Cell surface modifications in the epithelium of rat ventral prostate during adaptation to in vitro conditions: an ultrastructural study. In Vitro. 1984 Mar; 20(3 Pt 1):216-28.

Merk FB, Pauli BU, Jacobs JB, Alroy J, Friedell GH, Weinstein RS. Malignant transformation of urinary bladder in humans and in N-[4-(5-nitro-2-furyl)-2-thiazolyl]formamide-exposed Fischer rats: ultrastructure of the major components of the permeability barrier. Cancer Res. 1977 Aug; 37(8 Pt 2):2843-53.

Leav I, McNeal JE, Kwan PW, Komminoth P, Merk FB. Androgen receptor expression in prostatic dysplasia (prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia) in the human prostate: an immunohistochemical and in situ hybridization study. Prostate. 1996 Sep; 29(3):137-45.

Leav I, Schelling KH, Adams JY, Merk FB, Alroy J. Role of canine basal cells in postnatal prostatic development, induction of hyperplasia, and sex hormone-stimulated growth; and the ductal origin of carcinoma. Prostate.2001 Aug 1; 48(3):210-24.

Below are listed persons who significantly contributed to my education and career:

My Parents...Frederick Merk and Lois Bannister Merk. Professors of American History. They continuously encouraged me and provided financial support for my education. My father was frequently cited in publications of Marquis Who's Who in America.

My wife....Linda Poole Merk PhD Boston University. She was a major contributor to my career and mother of my sons John and Dan.

Dr. Humberto Fernandez-Moran, Department of Neurosurgery Mass General Hospital (MGH) Boston.
Dr. Stanley Bullivant, Mixter Laboratory for Electron Microscopy MGH.
Dr. Moran trained me in the art of High Resolution Electron Microscopy and Dr. Bullivant taught me the freeze-fracture replication technique for study of cell membranes.

Dr. William Sweet, chair Dept of Neurosurgery MGH. Boston MA
Francis O. Schmitt Prof of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge MA
Their support helped me to continue my education in graduate school.

Dr. Charles R. Botticelli Dept of Biology, Boston University (BU), Boston MA. He was a teacher of Endocrinology at BU and my thesis advisor.

Dr. Martin Flax, chair Dept of Pathology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston MA (TUSM)
Dr. James R. Morehead Dept of Anatomy and Cell Biology TUSM
Dr. Flax enabled me to join the faculty at TUSM and was very supportive of my career in the Pathology and Anatomy Departments.
Dr. Morehead was very instrumental in helping me to learn a totally new discipline...Clinical Gross Anatomy and Embryology.

I am greatly indebted to my research colleagues who provided me with much information and enthusiasm.

Dr. Ronald S Weinstein, Dept of Pathology TUSM; Dr N. Scott McNutt, Dept of Pathology MGH; Dr Irwin Leav, TUSM and Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Grafton MA and Dr. Peter Ofner TUSM and Lemuel Shattuck Hospital, Boston MA

About Marquis Who's Who :
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America , Marquis Who's Who has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Today, Who's Who in America remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. Marquis publications may be visited at the official Marquis Who's Who website at www.marquiswhoswho.com.

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