Anthony F. Merlino, M.D., who along with his late partners William Hindle, M.D. and Ralph Pike, M.D. helped found the Rhode Island Orthopedic Group, has died at the age of 92 in North Providence, Rhode Island.
Anthony Merlino, Rhode Island Orthopedic Co-Founder, Dies Age 92
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Remembrances#obituary#anthonymerlino
An accomplished, but humble man, he was an orthopedic surgeon at the Fatima and Providence units of St. Joseph Hospital for 40 years until he retired in 2003.
According to his family and those who knew him best, “He always tried to treat everyone with kindness, dignity and respect.”
Merlino wrote more than 20 scientific articles throughout his extraordinary career. He was also a member of the American Medical Association, American College of Surgeons, American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, Rhode Island Orthopedic Society, Eastern Orthopedic Association, Boston Orthopedic Club, and other professional organizations.
Dr. Merlino spent 20 years as an orthopedic consultant for his alma mater, Providence College, and as a team physician to its NCAA Division I athletic teams. For his dedication, the college honored him with the McDonnell Award in 1981 and the Golden Friar Alumni Service Award in 2001.
He was also recognized in multiple editions of WHO’S WHO IN SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING, WHO’S WHO IN MEDICINE AND HEALTHCARE, WHO’S WHO IN THE EAST, WHO’s WHO IN AMERICA, and WHO’S WHO IN THE WORLD.
Merlino believed in helping others in many ways, not just in the hospital. He was a major benefactor of his church, Providence College, and Jefferson Medical College, and contributed to many charitable organizations.
A true Renaissance man, he was an accomplished pianist and a film and digital photographer specializing in landscapes and wildlife. He also devoted many years into researching John F. Kennedy’s assassination.
Merlino served his country as a medical officer in the United States Air Force, two years on active duty and then a few years in the Active Reserve. He also had a passion for the law and won a few medically oriented cases in both the Rhode Island Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court.
Merlino was born in Providence to the late Anthony F. and C. Mildren Merlino. After graduating from Classical High School, he went to Providence College, University of Connecticut, and Jefferson Medical College where he pursued a career in orthopedic surgery.
He had lived in North Providence since 1969 and had been married to the late Dolores Mary Merlino for 58 years.
He is survived by his daughters Christa Merlino of Smithfield and Paula DeDonato and her husband Joseph and two grandchildren, Christina and Joseph DeDonato, all of North Providence. He also leaves behind his brother Frank Merlino and his wife Elizabeth of Potowomut and his sister Helen Toro of West Warwick and Estero, Florida.
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This is a fascinating development. In my practice we've seen similar outcomes with the revised protocol. The key differentiator seems to be patient selection criteria. Has anyone else noticed the correlation with BMI thresholds?
Great point. I'd push back slightly on the conclusion, the sample size in the cited study is too small to draw population-level inferences. That said, the directional signal is compelling and worth a larger RCT.
We implemented a similar approach last year. Early results are promising but we're still gathering 12-month follow-up data. Happy to share our protocol if anyone is interested.
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