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 have launched 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 scholarships funded by CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield grant
Oct 27, 2025

MSOM scholarships funded by CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield grant

$400,000 will fund four partial scholarships at the Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine in 2026-2027. The Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine announced that CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (CareFirst) has awarded the school a $400,000 grant to support student scholarships. The Long-Term Programmatic grant will provide $100,000 annually through 2027, funding four partial scholarships for the 2026-2027 academic year. Scholarship recipients will be selected based on merit, including academic performance and MCAT scores. “Meritus Health’s goal in creating the Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine is to fill the need for physicians in our region and across the state,” said Brian Kessler, D.O., dean of MSOM. “Studies show that physicians tend to set up practice within 100 miles of where they’ve trained, so these scholarships provided by CareFirst are helping us meet our goal.” “Education is a powerful tool and a significant driver of better health outcomes,” said Dr. Bryan O. Buckley, Head of Public Health at CareFirst. “By partnering with Meritus, we’re investing in the next generation of clinical professionals to meet the growing need for physicians across our region and state. Many of these students will bring their knowledge and passion back to our communities — contributing to a stronger, more responsive healthcare system.” MSOM welcomed its inaugural class of more than 90 students, the class of 2029, in July. Future classes will number 180 students, meaning there will be 720 future doctors enrolled when MSOM is at capacity. Students are instructed by experienced and well-trained professors in the D.M. Bowman Academic Hall on the Meritus Health campus near Hagerstown. In addition, students are housed in one- and two-bedroom units in the Meritus Commons housing complex, adjacent to the campus.

MSOM NEWS:MSOM partners with the University of Maryland to streamline the path to becoming a physician
Oct 6, 2025

MSOM partners with the University of Maryland to streamline the path to becoming a physician

Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine’s Pathways Program reflects the school’s commitment to removing barriers to becoming a doctor. The Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine and the University of Maryland have partnered to make it easier for qualified students and alumni to become physicians. The university is one of six schools to participate in the MSOM guaranteed interview Pathways Program. “Qualified students at partner institutions benefit from the program directly by getting a guaranteed interview for MSOM’s Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine program,” said Chanté Richardson, PhD, MBA, Associate Dean of Student Services and Community Engagement at MSOM. "Beyond the guaranteed interview, students will gain early access to valuable pre-medical resources, including MCAT preparation workshops, D.O. student shadowing opportunities, and other MSOM-sponsored pre-admission activities designed to support students on their journey to medical school," she said. The program aims to prepare physicians to care for real communities, particularly those that need it most. "The mission of the MSOM is to train physicians who will be socially responsible, professionally accomplished, and community-oriented," Richardson said. "We are thrilled to launch this partnership, especially as 15 percent of MSOM’s inaugural class are University of Maryland alumni. This collaboration reflects MSOM’s commitment to removing barriers and expanding opportunities for promising future physicians." “We are excited that the first osteopathic medical school in Maryland matriculated its inaugural class. We look forward to working closely with the admissions team at Meritus to secure MCAT mentorship, clinical shadowing, and guaranteed interviews for Terps pursuing the D.O. path,” said Wendy Loughlin, Assistant Dean and Director of UMD’s Reed-Yorke Health Professions Advising Office. The MSOM Pathways Program is currently available to undergrads and recent alumni at the University of Maryland, Frostburg State University, Harrisburg University of Science and Technology, Samuel Merritt University, Shepherd University and Susquehanna University. Eligible students at partner institutions must: Be currently enrolled at or have graduated within the last two years from the partner institution at the time of application. Be in good academic, professional, and disciplinary standing at the partner institution. Meet minimum academic requirements set by MSOM (including coursework, GPA, and MCAT expectations). Receive a strong letter of recommendation from the partner institution. To learn more about the Pathways program, visit www.MSOM.org/Pathways.

MSOM NEWS:MSOM dean named vice chairman of Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation
Sep 29, 2025

MSOM dean named vice chairman of Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation

Dr. Brian Kessler is also chief academic officer of the Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine. The dean of the Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine (MSOM) was recently named the vice chairman of the commission that oversees accreditation standards and procedures for colleges of osteopathic medicine. Brian Kessler, D.O., FACOFP, was recently named to the position on the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA), part of the American Osteopathic Association. “I am honored and privileged to hold this title on the commission recognized by U.S. Department of Education as the accreditor of colleges of osteopathic medicine,” Kessler said. “It is very meaningful to help oversee and guide the process of organizations dedicated to training future physicians in osteopathic medicine in our country.” COCA accreditation signifies that a college has met or exceeded the commission’s standards for educational quality. The American Osteopathic Association represents more than 197,000 osteopathic physicians and medical students across the United States. To learn more about COCA, visit osteopathic.org/accreditation. To learn more about MSOM, visit MSOM.org.

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.