Merritt, director of behavioral medicine at Baton Rouge General Medical Center in Louisiana, is a licensed clinical social worker and board-approved clinical supervisor. She is a member of the American Hospital Association's Social Work Administrators in Health Care and past president of the Louisiana Hospital Association's Social Work Managers in Health Care. Merritt's four-year term expires September 30, 2005.

Merritt fills the vacancy of outgoing member Jo Ivey Boufford, M.D., dean of the Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service at New York University. Boufford served as vice chair of COGME and chair of the physician workforce workgroup.

COGME advises the HHS Secretary and House and Senate committees on physician workforce trends and related issues in health professions education. COGME also makes recommendations regarding the supply and distribution of physicians and the appropriate efforts of hospitals, medical schools and accrediting bodies to deliver health care to the nation. HRSA's Bureau of Health Professions provides executive and staffing support for the council, including coordinating meetings and publishing reports and papers.

# # #