Merck & Co -- Payments to Infectious Disease Physicians
This page provides a detailed breakdown of Merck & Co's payments to Infectious Disease physicians, as reported in the CMS Open Payments (Sunshine Act) database. Understanding how a pharmaceutical company targets specific medical specialties reveals important patterns about their marketing strategies and physician relationships.
Payment Summary: Merck & Co to Infectious Disease
- Total Payments to Infectious Disease Doctors: $1,140,525.61
- Number of Transactions: 133
- Number of Infectious Disease Doctors Paid: 20
- Average Payment Amount: $8,575.38
- Share of Merck & Co's Total Spending: 17.6% of $6.5M
Why Does Merck & Co Pay Infectious Disease Doctors?
Pharmaceutical companies make payments to physicians in specialties related to their product portfolio. Merck & Co's payments to Infectious Disease specialists may include consulting fees for drug development advice, speaking engagements at medical conferences, clinical trial research funding, and meals during product education visits. The volume and types of payments to Infectious Disease doctors can indicate the importance of this specialty to Merck & Co's business strategy.
Understanding the relationship between Merck & Co and Infectious Disease physicians helps patients evaluate whether their doctor's prescribing patterns might be influenced by financial relationships with this company.
Payment Types: How Merck & Co Pays Infectious Disease Doctors
The following table shows the breakdown of payment categories from Merck & Co to Infectious Disease physicians:
| Payment Type | Total Amount | Transactions |
|---|---|---|
| Ownership Interest | $405,727.82 | 3 |
| Consulting Fees | $377,803.42 | 32 |
| Speaking & Education | $209,112.77 | 13 |
| Research Funding | $78,940.70 | 2 |
| general | $40,673.89 | 42 |
| Travel & Lodging | $24,341.55 | 8 |
| Food & Beverage | $3,925.46 | 33 |
Top Infectious Disease Doctors Paid by Merck & Co
The following Infectious Disease physicians have received the largest total payments from Merck & Co. Click on any physician to view their complete payment report.
| Physician | Total Received | Transactions |
|---|---|---|
| Benjamin Cook | $194,254.81 | 1 |
| Karen Harris | $180,688.94 | 1 |
| Robert Johnson | $62,810.39 | 1 |
| Rebecca Adams | $30,784.07 | 1 |
| Catherine Morris | $26,978.79 | 1 |
| Steven Green | $26,168.02 | 1 |
| Rachel Parker | $23,676.33 | 1 |
| Ashley Nelson | $23,280.78 | 1 |
| Laura Hall | $22,151.69 | 1 |
| Robert Johnson | $20,761.24 | 1 |
| Brian Wright | $19,786.75 | 1 |
| Mark Perez | $19,613.82 | 1 |
| Thomas Miller | $19,598.97 | 1 |
| Christopher Clark | $18,912.65 | 1 |
| Robert Johnson | $18,365.06 | 1 |
| Paul Turner | $18,326.97 | 1 |
| Andrew Young | $18,025.87 | 1 |
| John Anderson | $17,052.50 | 1 |
| Eric Sanchez | $16,130.31 | 1 |
| Maria Martinez | $16,006.36 | 1 |
Recent Payments from Merck & Co to Infectious Disease Physicians
| Doctor | Amount | Type | Drug/Device | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christopher Clark | $15,848.73 | consulting | N/A | 2026-04-06 |
| Elizabeth Roberts | $194.85 | general | N/A | 2026-04-03 |
| Jennifer Patel | $8,417.86 | consulting | N/A | 2026-04-01 |
| Jennifer Patel | $5,155.37 | consulting | N/A | 2026-04-01 |
| Rachel Parker | $66.84 | general | N/A | 2026-03-29 |
| Robert Johnson | $20,761.24 | speaking | N/A | 2026-03-29 |
| Nicole Lopez | $77.32 | meals | N/A | 2026-03-29 |
| Emily Thompson | $212.68 | meals | N/A | 2026-03-20 |
| Daniel White | $14,813.37 | consulting | N/A | 2026-03-14 |
| Mark Perez | $19,613.82 | consulting | N/A | 2026-03-11 |
| Andrew Young | $18,025.87 | consulting | N/A | 2026-03-11 |
| Rebecca Adams | $30,784.07 | ownership | N/A | 2026-03-09 |
| Brian Wright | $83.84 | meals | N/A | 2026-03-03 |
| Amy Phillips | $217.79 | meals | N/A | 2026-02-20 |
| Scott Collins | $10,382.61 | consulting | N/A | 2026-02-19 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Merck & Co pay Infectious Disease doctors?
According to CMS Open Payments data, Merck & Co has made $1,140,525.61 in payments to Infectious Disease physicians across 133 transactions. The average payment is $8,575.38. These payments include consulting fees, speaking engagements, meals, research funding, and other transfers of value required to be reported under the Sunshine Act.
Which Infectious Disease doctors receive the most from Merck & Co?
The top Infectious Disease physician receiving payments from Merck & Co is Benjamin Cook, with $194,254.81 across 1 transactions. View the full ranking table above for all Infectious Disease doctors paid by Merck & Co.
Why does Merck & Co target Infectious Disease specialists?
Pharmaceutical companies target medical specialties related to their product portfolio. Merck & Co's payments to Infectious Disease doctors likely relate to drugs or devices used in infectious disease practice. These payments can include advisory board fees, clinical trial funding, and educational speaking engagements.
Should I be concerned if my Infectious Disease doctor takes money from Merck & Co?
Payment from Merck & Co to a Infectious Disease physician does not imply wrongdoing. Many payments represent legitimate professional activities like research and medical education. However, patients may want to ask their doctor about these relationships, especially if Merck & Co products are being prescribed. Transparency helps patients have informed conversations with their physicians.
How does Merck & Co's Infectious Disease spending compare to other pharma companies?
Merck & Co has spent $1,140,525.61 on Infectious Disease physicians. To compare with other pharmaceutical companies, visit the Infectious Disease specialty page for a broader view of which companies spend the most on this medical specialty.
Related Reports
Data from CMS Open Payments (Sunshine Act). Payment does not imply wrongdoing. AI analysis is not medical or legal advice.