Becker’s Healthcare Podcast Nathan A. Merriman, MD, MSCE, Interim Senior Medical Director Surgical Specialties and Digestive Health Clinical Program at Intermountain Medical Center
Dec 25, 2025
Join Nathan A. Merriman, MD, MSCE, a physician-leader at Intermountain Medical Center, as he explores innovative approaches to healthcare. He advocates for a patient-centered, team-based model that enhances access and the human experience. Nathan discusses the importance of operational efficiency in surgical services and how competition drives collaboration in reducing colon cancer. Additionally, he reveals plans for expanding ambulatory endoscopy centers, highlighting how converting hospital settings can lower patient costs while improving quality and safety.
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Career Shift To Intermountain
- Merriman left academics and private practice to join Intermountain with his family in 2020.
- He praises combining academic, private practice, and mission focus to prevent avoidable suffering.
Patient-Centered, Proactive Care
- Center care design around patients to improve access and outcomes.
- Proactive, human-centered care finds problems earlier and reduces harm and cost.
Innovation Is Teamwork, Not Just Tech
- Innovation goes beyond tech to new team-based ways of working.
- Using teams proactively identifies conditions earlier and lowers downstream costs.