The Medical Team
George R. Merriman II, MD, FASMBS
Contact: 318.222.3132
Know Your Surgeon:
- The most experienced Laparoscopic Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy and Lap Band Surgeon in the Ark-La-Tex region
- Has performed over 3000 Bariatric cases
- Medical Director, Christus Highland Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence
- FIRST surgeon in the entire Christus Health System to perform Robotic Bariatric Surgery
- Recognized "Center of Excellence" by MBSAQIP
- Recognized as a BLISCare Best in Class Surgeons
- The first local Bariatric Surgeon certified on the DaVinci robotic operating system
- Highly Experienced laparoscopic surgeon specializing in minimally invasive surgery for bariatrics, gall bladder removal, hernia repair and reflux/heartburn surgical procedures.
Biography:
Dr. Merriman was born in Louisiana but grew up all over the South, including Arkansas, Texas and Alabama. After his medical training, Dr. Merriman returned to his roots in Louisiana and joined The Mason-Itzig Clinic in 1992. After Dr. Itzig retired, the practiced changed its name to Surgical Specialists of Shreveport, LLC.
He has always been interested in all things technological, fostering his early interest in laparoscopy as well as surgical robotics. He is dedicated to remaining on the "cutting edge" of knowledge and innovation in his area of surgery.
He entertains himself with his inborn love of music (he has been an accomplished drummer since the age of 12), movies (especially sci-fi and westerns), speaking (he was the national college debate champion of 1983) and the Green Bay Packers (having made several "pilgrimages" to the frozen tundra of Lambeau field). He and his wife of more than 20 years, Katy, now run the medical practice together keeping the highest standards of patient care and service as their top priority.
Philosophy:
Dr. Merriman's well-rounded life experiences foster his commitment to treating his patients as more than their disease by following a simple philosophy — always treat people as an end unto themselves, and never as a means to an end.
Education:
M.D. (1992) - Medical School & Surgery Residency - University of Alabama Hospitals (Birmingham, AL)
B.S. Chemistry (1983) - Southern Methodist University (Dallas, TX)
Credentials:
Board Certified, Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS)
Fellow, American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery (FASMBS)
Recognized "Center of Excellence" by the Surgical Review Corporation
Member, Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES)
Member, Louisiana State Medical Society
Member, Shreveport Medical Society
Former Board of Director, Shreveport Medical Society
Kathryn C. Waldrop PA-C
Contact: 318.222.3132, ext. 2 •
Kat joined our practice originally in 2015 and left for a few years for an opportunity in Dallas. She returned to our practice in 2021. She handles our Medical Weight Loss program, Lap Band Adjustments, and supports Dr. Merriman and our team in the aftercare for all our weight loss surgery patients.
Education:
MS, Physician Assistant Studies - LSUHSC-Shreveport, 2014
BS - Biology, 2011 – Louisiana Tech University
Credentials:
Board Certified NCCPA - 2014 to Present
Lisa Stansbury, MS, LDN, RD, CDE
Nutritionist & Medical Weight Loss
Contact: 318.222.3132, ext. 6 •
Lisa has worked with the practice since 2009. She handles all the Pre and Post-Operative nutrition instruction. She is also available for nutrition support appointments and she runs and manages the non-surgical, Medical Weight Loss service line in our practice.
Education:
BS, MS (1981, 1987) – Louisiana Tech University
Credentials:
Licensed Dietitian/Nutritionist
Certified Diabetes Educator
Member, American Dietetic Association
Member, American Association of Diabetes Educators
Stacy Gregory, LPN
Pre-Op Coordinator & Body Sculpt Shreveport Specialist
Contact: 318.222.3132, ext. 7 •
Stacy joined our practice in 2008. She handles all pre-operative appointments and is our trained specialist in the Body Sculpting services of BTL Vanquish ME and BTL Cellutone.
Education:
LPN (2009) – LSU-Shreveport
Scrub Tech (1997) – Kilgore College
Credentials:
Member, National Federation of Licensed Practical Nurses
Mikiya "KayKay" Clark, NRMA
Medical Assistant
Contact: 318.222.3132 ext. 3 •
KayKay is available to our patients for any medical questions, prescription requests, and Pre and Post Operative concens. She joined our practice in 2018.
Education:
Northwestern State University, General Studies 2015
Louisiana Technical College, Certified Nursing Assisting 1996
American Commercial College, Medical Assisting, Medical Billing & Coding, Medical Transcription 1995