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:MSOM students receive white coats, mark milestone
Jul 28, 2025

MSOM students receive white coats, mark milestone

Inaugural class of the Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine participates in tradition symbolizing start of their journey to becoming a physician. HAGERSTOWN, Md. — Members of the inaugural class of the Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine marked a milestone Friday, receiving their white medical coats symbolizing their start on the journey to becoming doctors of osteopathic medicine. The ceremony, the culmination of a week of orientation for the students, is a tradition for medical students. “This ceremony is not only a rite of passage, but also a visible reminder of the responsibility our students are about to embrace,” said Chanté Richardson, Ph.D., MBA, associate dean of student services and community engagement. The class of 97 students were joined by hundreds of family and friends who filled the Alice Virginia & David W. Fletcher Conference Center in the D.M. Bowman Academic Hall. “I know we all got here because someone helped us,” said Maulik Joshi, Dr.P.H., president of the medical school. “Be it a parent, a family member, a friend, a spouse, a teacher, a physician. And that help is going to continue on your journey here at MSOM.” He noted that the students, being the first class of the new medical school, would have upon their graduation the privilege of signing a steel beam that was signed by Meritus staff and community members when the academic hall was constructed. “As the inaugural class, you're the foundation for the future,” he said. “That steel beam represents the foundation of the academic building, just as all of you represent the foundation of this medical school.” The beam is on display in the school lobby. Atif Chaudhry, Secretary of the Maryland Department of General Services, presented a state flag that flew atop the Maryland State House in Annapolis. He noted that the state and nation is in desperate need of physicians. In fact, there will be a projected shortage of 124,000 physicians in the United States by 2030. There is a shortage of roughly 50 physicians just in Washington County, Md. MSOM was built to help solve the shortage crisis locally and in Maryland. It’s the first civilian medical school to open its doors in the state in more than 100 years. “There is a reason the governor chose to fly this flag on July 4,” Chaudhry said. “July 4 is symbolic, not only of the birth of our nation, but also of growth and prosperity. And that is just like here today, it’s a symbol of a new beginning.” Meena Seshamani, M.D., Ph.D., the secretary of the Maryland Department of Health, congratulated the students on their achievement and what they are about to become. “The journey you all are about to embark on will allow you to challenge yourselves, to grow professionally and personally, and you’ll support each other,” she said. “You're going to be able to help this health system and this school to grow.” Dr. Seshamani noted the importance of the students being part of the first class. “You all will be the epitome of what it means to practice holistic care,” she said. “It will be your faces, hands and brains driving all of that forward, not only for the state of Maryland, but also for the country.” Brian Kessler, D.O., dean of MSOM, encouraged the students to take to heart what they will learn. “Go out and change lives,” he said. To learn more about the Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine, visit msom.org.

MSOM NEWS:Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine offers 15 scholarships to incoming students
Jun 3, 2025

Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine offers 15 scholarships to incoming students

Financial awards for inaugural class total more than $1.6 million. HAGERSTOWN, Md. — The Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine (MSOM) will offer more than $1.6 million in scholarships to 15 students in its first class over the next four years. That includes one full scholarship; the remainder are partial scholarships. The inaugural class of 90 students is due to fill the D.M. Bowman Academic Hall in July. Funding for the scholarships comes from Meritus Health, its leaders and physicians, and its volunteers, as well as the Washington County Chamber of Commerce. “We are extraordinarily proud of our health system and business community for stepping up to help our students,” said MSOM President Maulik Joshi, Dr.P.H. “This group of bright and dedicated young people will be able to focus less on finances and more on training to become physicians who will be socially responsible, professionally accomplished and community oriented.” Some of the scholarships are standard grants awarded annually based on merit and/or financial need and contingent upon students maintaining high performance. However, many are structured as forgivable loans, requiring students to work for the health system for a period of time after graduation. The Meritus Medical Center Auxiliary established the first scholarship in MSOM’s history, the Meritus Auxiliary Regional Scholars Program. The scholarship covers full tuition over four years totaling $220,000 for one student. Auxiliary President Gerry Philp said the school’s mission to educate more physicians and keep them in this region aligned with the Auxiliary’s mission of supporting the activities of Meritus Medical Center. “We thought this was a very good cause,” he said. “We had given money to the school in the capital campaign, and we wanted to see it successful, so we thought it would be good to do a full scholarship versus a partial, and we had the funds available to commit.” Other scholarships and donors include: Meritus Health Scholars Program Four scholarships of $25,000 for each of four years for a total of $100,000 per recipient. 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. Donor: This scholarship was funded by the MSOM president. 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 Donor: This scholarship was funded by donations from Meritus senior leaders. Meritus Physicians' Scholarship Awarded to two students in the inaugural MSOM class. The scholarship award will be $25,000 per year for four years for a total of $100,000 each. Donor: This scholarship was funded by donations from Meritus physicians. Chamber of Commerce Scholarship Six scholarships of $26,000 for each of four years for a total of $104,000 over four years. 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, Western Maryland’s largest health care provider, is located at the crossroads of Western Maryland, Southern Pennsylvania and the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. The mission of Meritus Health is to improve the health of the region by providing the best healthcare, health services and medical education. As an anchor organization for the community, Meritus has 4,000 employees and serves more than 200,000 residents of the tristate region through Meritus Medical Center, Brook Lane Health Services, Meritus Medical Group, Meritus Home Health, Meritus Equipped for Life, and the Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine. More information can be found at www.MeritusHealth.com or visit our Facebook page or LinkedIn page.

MSOM NEWS:MSOM Faculty Publish Breakthrough Research on Alzheimer’s Disease in Biomolecules Journal
May 30, 2025

MSOM Faculty Publish Breakthrough Research on Alzheimer’s Disease in Biomolecules Journal

The Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine (MSOM) proudly announces that Dr. Venkata Atluri and Dr. Samuel Kadavakollu have published a significant research article in the peer-reviewed journal Biomolecules. The article, titled "Inflammasome-Mediated Neuroinflammation: A Key Driver in Alzheimer’s Disease Pathogenesis," explores the critical role of inflammasomes in the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Their study sheds new light on the molecular mechanisms behind neuroinflammation and its contribution to Alzheimer’s, potentially paving the way for targeted therapies aimed at mitigating disease progression. The publication reflects the growing recognition of MSOM faculty for their impactful contributions to neurodegenerative disease research. Read the complete article by visiting: https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/15/5/676

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