Jeffrey Merz-Herrala, MD

Dr. Jeffrey Merz-Herrala is a pain medicine specialist who cares for patients with a range of pain conditions in the hospital and in the clinic. He values continuity and collaboration to provide accurate diagnoses, timely treatment and coordinated follow-up across disciplines. He integrates rehabilitation, medication, psychology and surgery when appropriate in care plans, and performs nerve blocks, radiofrequency ablations, epidurals, blood patches, neurolysis and neuromodulation procedures, including peripheral nerve stimulators.

In research, Merz-Herrala focuses on improving care quality and efficiency through system design, informatics and safe use of artificial intelligence. By ensuring smooth care transitions between primary care, urgent care, the emergency department and the hospital, his goal is to increase access to treatments based on the latest research while reducing preventable suffering.

Merz-Herrala earned his medical degree at Harvard Medical School. He completed a residency in emergency medicine at Highland Hospital in Oakland, where he also served as chief resident for education. He completed a fellowship in pain medicine at UCSF, where he served as chief administrative fellow.

Outside the clinic, Merz-Herrala is an enthusiast of books, podcasts and photography. He is grateful to live near California's redwoods and coast.