2026 Physician Lecture Series: Robotic Assisted Total Knee Replacement

We are excited to announce Dr. Robert Merrill and Dr. Michael Held from Orthopedic & Neurosurgery Specialist (ONS) will be presenting on Robotic Assisted Total Knee Replacement.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

1.    The participant will be capable of demonstrating the advantages of robotic-assisted TKA.

2.    The participant should be capable of identifying and recognizing the differences between robotic-assisted TKA and traditional TKA.

3.    The participant should be able to describe robotic-assisted total knee replacement.

4.    Identify the pros and cons of traditional versus robotic-assisted TKA.

SPEAKER BIO:

Dr. Robert Merrill, MD, is a fellowship-trained orthopedic spine surgeon who specializes in all aspects of non-surgical and surgical care of the adult and pediatric spine. Dr. Merrill treats conditions of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine including traumatic spinal injuries, spinal deformity, tumors, infection, and degenerative spine conditions. His additional clinical interests encompass a range of advanced techniques and conditions such as fusionless options for spondylolisthesis, degenerative disc disease, pinched nerves, herniated/bulging disc treatments, fusion sparing surgery, minimally invasive lumbar discectomy, anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, robot-assisted spinal fusion and cervical foraminotomy.

Dr. Merrill always takes an initial conservative treatment approach including physical therapy, medication, and injections before recommending surgery. When surgery is necessary, he often uses advanced surgical techniques including minimally invasive approaches, operative navigation, and robotics. He values working with his patients to formulate an individualized treatment plan based on the patient’s goals, occupation, and lifestyle.

Dr. Merrill has conducted extensive clinical and basic science research around intervertebral disc degeneration, minimally invasive spine surgery techniques, and adult spinal deformity surgery. Evidence based medicine is central to his approach in caring for patients with any form of spinal pathology.

He received his medical degree from Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (ISMMS) and completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia. Dr. Merrill went on to complete a fellowship in spinal surgery at the Hospital for Special Surgery.

In his free time, Dr. Merrill enjoys staying active and spending time with his wife and young son.

Dr. Michael Held is a fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon specializing in hip and knee replacement surgery. He provides both surgical and non-surgical treatments for hip and knee pain, offering comprehensive care tailored to each patient’s needs. Dr. Held performs the full spectrum of joint replacement surgeries, including partial and total knee replacements, hip replacements, and revision hip and knee surgery. He has expertise in minimally invasive surgery and advanced techniques in direct anterior total hip replacement. He has authored over 30 peer-reviewed publications and textbook chapters in the field of hip and knee replacement surgery. Dr. Held also serves as the Medical Director, Orthopedic Trauma, at Greenwich Hospital.

Dr. Held attended Vanderbilt University for his undergraduate degree and obtained his medical degree from Tufts University School of Medicine. He was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha society and completed a combined MD/MBA in Healthcare Management from Brandeis University.

Dr. Held completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at New York Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center, where he also served as Administrative Chief Resident. He further honed his skills with a fellowship in adult hip and knee reconstruction and replacement at the Rothman Orthopedic Institute.

Dr. Held’s practice focuses on providing comprehensive and personalized care for patients with hip and knee issues. He combines advanced surgical techniques with a deep commitment to patient education, ensuring each patient is well-informed and confident in their treatment plan.

In his free time, Dr. Held enjoys spending time with his wife, family and friends. He also enjoys playing golf, traveling, fishing and scuba diving.

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