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."

Prepare future generations of physicians who are professionally accomplished, socially responsible, and community oriented.

To be a leader in community-based medical education.

Please see our Strategic Plan.

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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:Meritus Scholar-Con highlights research, scholarly activity
Mar 14, 2025

Meritus Scholar-Con highlights research, scholarly activity

The inaugural event displays academics of Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine faculty and staff, and the greater Meritus Health community HAGERSTOWN, Md. — The Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine recently held its inaugural research and scholarly activity conference — known as Meritus Scholar-Con. Organized by the school’s Office of Research, 43 abstracts were submitted for the March 13 event in the school’s newly constructed D.M. Bowman Academic Hall. Of those abstracts, 37 were poster presentations and six were picked for podium presentations. The posters and talks focused on the following areas: Clinical research, quality improvement or health systems science Clinical case studies Biomedical and translational science Population, community health and health equity research Outreach and community-engaged research Medical education research “This inaugural event highlights the research and scholarly activity of our Meritus Community, including our MSOM faculty and Meritus Health providers and staff, in addition to the larger Meritus community of residents and rotating clinical students,” said Murray Berkowitz, D.O., interim dean. One poster on display by Heather P.M. Theibert, D.O., Evan Curry, M.S., and Ajay Bhandari, M.D., focuses on drug use in regions similar to Hagerstown and Washington County, Md. “Perceptions of Opioid Use and Treatment in Rural Appalachia: A Quantitative Review of the Literature” examines published surveys and interview-based research “to identify trends in perception of opioid use, harm reduction initiatives and barriers.” “This information can help advocate for people who use opioids by identifying ways and populations to educate about opioid use,” the trio wrote in their abstract on the poster. One of the podium talks — “Go for Bold: Improving Health Outcomes One Pound at a Time” — was presented by Allen Twigg, L.C.P.C., chief operating officer of Meritus Health affiliate Brook Lane Health Services, and Remi Patel, M.H.A., Meritus administrative fellow. The talk looked at Meritus Health’s bold goal of getting the community to collectively lose a million pounds by 2030. The goal comes from obesity being a significant population health challenge in Washington County, Md. Twigg and Patel highlighted the successes and challenges of the program, which has more than 7,700 participants who have logged more than 167,000 pounds lost. “We were blown away by the range and depth of the abstracts submitted for our first Scholar-Con,” said Audrey Vasauskas, Ph.D., associate dean of research at MSOM. “This demonstration of academic prowess by our faculty, staff and health system community shows the kind of learning environment our students can expect when our first class starts in July.” More information on the presentations, including full abstracts on each poster and podium talk, is available at msom.org/academics/scholar-con-2025. The Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine is to welcome its first class of more than 90 students this summer on the Meritus Health campus near Hagerstown, Md. The medical school, the first to open in Maryland in more than 100 years, was created to reduce the shortage of doctors in the region and the nation. Learn more at msom.org.

MSOM NEWS:Dr. K leads study on key clinical and extracurricular experiences for premed students
Jan 30, 2025

Dr. K leads study on key clinical and extracurricular experiences for premed students

In collaboration with colleagues, Dr. Samuel Kadavakollu, Associate Dean for Academics at the Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine, co-authored a comprehensive study examining the clinical experiences and extracurricular activities that can significantly boost premed students' chances of acceptance into medical school. The study explores the types of activities that enhance applications and fulfill critical competencies for medical school success. Read the full study via the Journal of Osteopathic Medicine.

MSOM NEWS:Excitement builds at MSOM Accepted Students Day
Jan 29, 2025

Excitement builds at MSOM Accepted Students Day

The Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine (MSOM) recently celebrated a highly successful Accepted Students Day, welcoming 42 accepted students and their families to its vibrant campus. The event was filled with excitement and anticipation as future osteopathic physicians explored the state-of-the-art facilities, engaged in interactive sessions with faculty, and participated in hands-on demonstrations. The day began with a warm welcome from President and CEO, Dr. Maulik Joshi, who emphasized the school's commitment to fostering a supportive and collaborative learning environment. Attendees had the opportunity to tour the campus, visit the simulation labs, and learn about the innovative curriculum designed to prepare students for a dynamic healthcare landscape. Throughout the day, accepted students and their families were able to connect with faculty and staff, gaining valuable insights into the Meritus community. Informative panels and Q&A sessions provided a platform for addressing any questions, ensuring that attendees left with a clear understanding of what to expect in the coming years. The event concluded with a celebratory luncheon and tour of the facilities, where future classmates and their families mingled and shared their excitement for the journey ahead. The success of the Accepted Students Day highlighted the strong sense of community and dedication to excellence that defines the Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine.

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.