Dr. Merchant is Chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee where he has practiced since 1996. The subject of his research has been the application of advanced radiotherapy methods in the treatment of children with cancer. His focus has been in pediatric neuro-oncology where he designed new treatments for children with brain tumors and modeled radiation-related CNS effects. The broad long-term goal of his research has been to increase the cure rates for the most common brain tumors and reduce or eliminate the side effects of radiation therapy. He led the development of the first proton therapy facility dedicated solely to pediatric patients at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.