MSOM
Meritus Health
MSOM

Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine

Community is the MSOM Difference

Western Maryland's largest healthcare provider, with a 120-year legacy of providing community-based care, is proud to be launching the Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine to train physicians who will be socially responsible, professionally accomplished, and community oriented. 

Become a community-oriented physician.

Our goal is to educate great doctors who have experience engaging in the community. Click below to see the impact of the ways Meritus cares for its community. Medical students will have volunteer and research opportunities to participate in these initiatives and more.

Shape your medical future.

Benefit from hands-on learning and an expanding residency program at Meritus Health, preparing you for a successful medical career. 

 

Addressing Community Health Needs

Meritus Health has been doing community-based care for over 120 years. To us, this means living our mission every single day by engaging with the community to serve all of their health needs whatever it may take. For example, here are just some of the community-based initiatives we're doing today:

  • Giving free groceries to our neediest patients at our practice locations
  • Weekly conversations with patients who indicate they lack social companionship
  • Employing a fleet of vans and drivers so nobody misses an appointment due to lack of transportation 
  • Providing over $65M in community benefit including over $12M in free medical care

MSOM is taking that tradition of caring for the community and incorporating it into our curriculum. 

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"Our mission is to improve health in the region," explained Meritus Health President and CEO Maulik Joshi. "As an anchor organization for this community, it is our privilege and obligation to positively impact the lives of over 200,000 people in our region. The Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine will do that. It will change the game for the health, education and economy for everyone."

The Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine

supports a growing need

There is a growing shortage of physicians, and there are not enough new physicians being produced. Maryland is graduating fewer physicians, relative to population, than any other state.

124K

PHYSICIANS

National projected shortage of physicians by 2030

52

PHYSICIANS

Current Shortage in Washington County, Maryland

1 in 3

PHYSICIANS

is over the age of 60

Keep Up With Us

News & Updates

MSOM NEWS:Maryland Physicians Care supports Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine Scholarships
Sep 8, 2025

Maryland Physicians Care supports Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine Scholarships

MPC provided $624,000 grant to address critical physician shortage. Maryland Physicians Care (MPC) provided a grant to fund scholarships at the Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine. “MPC, a local Medicaid-managed care organization owned by Meritus Health, Ascension Saint Agnes, Holy Cross Health, and UPMC Western Maryland, gave $624,000 to the Washington County Chamber of Commerce to establish scholarships for six students,” said MPC President and CEO Jason Rottman. Each student will receive $26,000 per year for four years, totaling $104,000 each. “MPC recognizes the growing shortage of healthcare professionals in our state and actively seeks ways to alleviate that issue,” Rottman said. “This scholarship grant will financially assist in the education of six new doctors, directly adding resources to our healthcare community. We hope these new physicians will not only stay in Maryland but will choose to stay in the underserved rural community where they were trained.” MPC works to improve health outcomes by addressing the factors that impact its members’ well-being and providers’ effectiveness. Addressing rising physician shortages (predicted to reach 86,000 fewer physicians than needed nationally by 2036) is just one of the goals. MPC has also provided funding to many organizations throughout Maryland to addresses non-medical factors such as food insecurity, transportation and housing. This includes partnering to provide non-emergent medical transportation for patients in need, supplying food for needy families and, in several locations, delivering that food to those with limited transportation. To learn more about MSOM, visit msom.org. To learn more about MPC, visit marylandphysicianscare.com.

MSOM NEWS:MSOM Student Garry “Tony” Graham II Appointed to the MAOP Student Advisory Board
Sep 3, 2025

MSOM Student Garry “Tony” Graham II Appointed to the MAOP Student Advisory Board

Garry “Tony” Graham II (OMS-I) has been appointed to the Maryland Association of Osteopathic Physicians (MAOP) Student Advisory Board for the 2025-2026 term. The advisory board is a dedicated group of students committed to advancing medical education, advocacy, and professional development. The board plays a pivotal role in shaping MAOP initiatives by providing valuable insights, leadership, and fresh ideas from a student’s perspective. Advisory board members’ contributions help ensure programs remain innovative, relevant, and aligned with the evolving needs of osteopathic physicians in training.

MSOM NEWS:Community spirit: MSOM student gets full scholarship
Sep 2, 2025

Community spirit: MSOM student gets full scholarship

The Meritus Auxiliary Regional Scholars Program covers tuition for Hagerstown resident. Isaiah Stevens, a member of the inaugural class of the Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine, said the school’s focus on service resonated with him. “I really believe in the mission of the school, which has a big emphasis on community,” said the Washington state native who has lived in Hagerstown with his wife, Leigha, for the past three years. “Volunteerism is built into the curriculum. They teach students to be mindful of community service.” So, it’s fitting he received the Meritus Auxiliary Regional Scholars Program scholarship to attend MSOM. The scholarship, paid for by the all-volunteer organization, covers full tuition over four years totaling $220,000 for one student. “It’s a very big honor to receive something like this from people who do what they do without expectation of money in return,” he said. “They are the kind of people I’d like to be.” Isaiah’s scholarship is one of 14 awarded to students in MSOM’s inaugural class. Many of the scholarships are structured as forgivable loans, requiring students to work for Meritus Health for a period of time after graduation. Funding for the scholarships comes from health system leaders, physicians and the community. The scholarships total more than $1.4 million over four years. In addition to the auxiliary scholarship, other scholarships and recipients include: Meritus Health Scholars Program Three scholarships of $25,000 for each of four years for a total of $100,000 per recipient. Recipients: Anjali Sodhi of Ellicott City, Maryland; Calvin Suoto of Mickleton, New Jersey; John Knight of Bealeton, Virginia Donor: This scholarship was established by Meritus Health, which wants to ensure that the community thrives by bringing the best and brightest future physicians to our region. Meritus President's Scholarship Awarded to one student in the inaugural MSOM class. The scholarship award will be $25,000 a year for four years for a total of $100,000. Recipient: Nashat Zaman of Goleta, California Donor: This scholarship was funded by the MSOM president and family. Meritus Leaders Scholarship Awarded to one student in the inaugural MSOM class. The scholarship award will be $25,000 per year for four years for a total of $100,000. Recipient: Zachary Appel of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania Donor: This scholarship was funded by donations from Meritus senior leaders. Meritus Physicians' Scholarship Awarded to one student in the inaugural MSOM class. The scholarship award will be $25,000 per year for four years for a total of $100,000. Recipient: Michal Zaniewski of Staten Island, New York Donor: This scholarship was funded by donations from Meritus physicians. Chamber of Commerce Scholarship Five scholarships of $26,000 for each of four years for a total of $104,000 over four years. Recipients: Caleb Bean of Windber, Pennsylvania; Jocelyn Chen of Boyds, Maryland; Jose Ildefonso Flores of Gaithersburg, Maryland; Neeraj Kumar of California, Maryland; Ian Roe of Ellicott City, Maryland Donor: These scholarships were made possible by the generosity of the Washington County Chamber of Commerce which received a grant from Maryland Physicians Care to establish the program. Meritus Health Scholarship Two scholarships from Meritus Health awarded to exceptional students. Award amounts are determined by the scholarship committee. Recipients: Brenna Posner of Bethesda, Maryland, $5,000; Rishabh Saha of Rockville, Maryland, $10,000

Help Us Reach Our Goal

We Need Your Support

By supporting the Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine, you are directly impacting the health of our region. We are thrilled to develop a customized giving plan to support what matters most to you.