Geno J. Merli, MD, a board-certified specialist in internal medicine, is Director of the Jefferson Center for Vascular Disease and Jefferson Medical College, and Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. After receiving his medical degree from Jefferson Medical College and completing his residency in rehabilitation medicine and internal medicine at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Dr. Merli has gone on to become a nationally recognized expert in the areas of prophylaxis for and management of deep-vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, as well as for the medical consultation of surgical patients. As a featured speaker for promoting the National Coalition to Prevent DVT, he has worked with Senators Specter and Dorgan and State Senators Mellow and Kryrillos to designate the month of March as "DVT Awareness Month" by the US Senate and state legislatures in PA and NJ. The recipient of numerous teaching awards during his career, Dr. Merli received the Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching in 1987 and the Dean's Citation for significant contribution to the advancement of education in 2004. He was named Ludwig A. Kind professor, an endowed chair in the department of medicine, in 1998. Dr. Merli is also a retired Lt. Col. in the US Army Reserve. He served as Commander of the 348th General Hospital (HUM) in Ashley, PA, and was awarded the Army Achievement and Commendation Medals.