Faculty

Merri Lou Pendergrass, DO

Merri Lou Pendergrass, MD, PhD

Dr. Merri Lou Pendergrass is a Professor of Medicine and Clinical Chief of Endocrinology at the University of Arizona College of Medicine in Tucson, Arizona. Dr. Pendergrass earned her doctorate in biopsychology at the University of Texas, Austin, and her medical degree at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas, Texas. She completed her internship and residency in Internal Medicine at the University of Texas, San Antonio, where she also completed a fellowship in Endocrinology and Metabolism. She previously directed diabetes programs associated with Tulane (Medical Center of Louisiana) and Harvard (Brigham and Women’s Hospital) Medical Schools. She also served as vice president and National Practice Leader for the Diabetes Therapeutic Resource Center of Medco Health Solutions, Inc. Her responsibilities included developing, implementing, and evaluating population-based strategies delivered through the pharmacy to improve diabetes care. Dr. Pendergrass is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism by the American Board of Internal Medicine.     

Dr. Pendergrass received the Excellence in Teaching Award from the University of Arizona Department of Medicine in 2017 and 2018. She also received the Care Award from the Arizona Chapter of the American Diabetes Association in 2016. Tucson Lifestyle Magazine also named her one of America’s Top Docs in 2015. Her research focuses on practice change and how to assess and improve the quality of diabetes healthcare delivery. 

Dr. Pendergrass discloses she has no relevant financial relationships with any organization producing, marketing, reselling, or distributing healthcare goods or services consumed by or used on patients relative to the content of this presentation.