Robert E. Merrill earned his B.S. from Tulane University in 1946 and his M.D. from Vanderbilt University Medical School in 1949. He completed his postgraduate training and fellowship appointments at Vanderbilt from 1949-1955 and became an instructor in Pediatrics in 1957, rising to associate professor before leaving in 1966 to accept a position at the University of Virginia.

Merrill subsequently held appointments in several pediatric departments before accepting a position as associate editor of the Journal of Pediatrics in 1977, a position he held until 1990.

Merrill loved Vanderbilt, as evidenced by his autobiographical account of his time there, entitled "Vanderbilt Memories." He also published a book about his Vanderbilt mentor, Dr. Amos Christie, as well as a book he edited for former Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs Roscoe Robinson. Merrill passed away in 2006.