Welcome to the Proposed Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine

Building the Next Generation of Expert Care, Close to Home

Meritus Health is officially seeking accreditation and licensure to open a proposed four-year osteopathic medical school in Hagerstown.

Career Opportunities

Join our inaugural faculty and inspire the next generation of physicians.

Preceptor Opportunities

Consider a preceptor opportunity to offer your guidance, mentorship and dedication to medical students and to medical education.

Addressing community health needs.

Meritus Health is officially moving forward with the accreditation and licensure process in order to open a four-year medical school in Hagerstown.

"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 proposed 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.


The Proposed 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:Proposed Medical School Construction Milestone Celebrated at Beam Signing Event
Oct 24, 2023

Proposed Medical School Construction Milestone Celebrated at Beam Signing Event

Just one year and a day after breaking ground on the D.M. Bowman Academic Hall, the future flagship building of the proposed Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine, one hundred community leaders, elected officials and community organizations celebrated another milestone in the building’s construction by signing a steel beam. “Steel is a core ingredient for this building – a strong foundation of support, which truly is symbolic of those who are signing it to celebrate this milestone,” said Meritus Health President and CEO, Maulik Joshi, Dr.P.H. “The support for this project has been incredible – our community is absolutely playing a significant role in the proposed Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine’s progress.” The Beam Signing event was attended by community leaders, local organizations, elected officials and donors who are supporting the capital costs of the new building, who have pledged a combined $11 Million dollars towards the project. The building, now framed in steel, will be 200,000 square feet and house classrooms, learning and technology labs and a conference center. Construction is expected to be finished next December, roughly eight months before medical students would use the facility. The proposed Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine is expected to welcome its first class of students in the fall of 2025. “Every day we are building this medical school,” said Joshi. “We are building the curriculum, we are building community relationships, we are building our faculty and team, and of course we are building this building.” Joshi said an inaugural dean, Dr. Paula Gregory, and four associate deans have been hired and are supporting the licensure and accreditation process. As they continue to reach milestones, additional faculty and staff will be hired.

MSOM NEWS:Meritus Health expands physician education, focuses on training next generation of doctors
Jul 13, 2023

Meritus Health expands physician education, focuses on training next generation of doctors

Meritus Health is working to address a growing physician shortage. In 2019, the health system launched a Family Residency program, to help provide expert training to medical school graduates on their path to becoming practicing physicians. “We know that it takes years of training and experience to create a socially-responsible physician,” said Dr. Paula Gregory, Dean, proposed Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine. “Our organization has been invested in ensuring we are doing our part to develop the next generations of needed physicians.” As the graduate medical education programs continue to expand, Dr. Bradley Miller has been named the new Associate Dean of Graduate Medical Education for the proposed Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine, where he will coordinate the organization’s graduate and training programs, including residency and fellowship opportunities. Ahead of this announcement, Dr. Miller served in the Meritus Family Medicine Residency Program. He previously served as Program Director for UPMC’s Residency Program for 13 years in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. “Studies continue to show us that physicians will practice in the communities where they trained,” said Dr. Miller. “By investing in stellar education and post graduate education opportunities, we are creating pathways for passionate and well-trained physicians to care for our own community. I’m excited for the opportunities we are working so hard to create for the future physicians of our region.” The proposed Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine is expected to welcome its first class of students in the fall of 2025. Construction on the 200,000 square foot academic building on the campus of Meritus Medical Center began in March.

MSOM NEWS:Jone L. Bowman Family Foundation pledges $6 million to proposed medical school
Jul 10, 2023

Jone L. Bowman Family Foundation pledges $6 million to proposed medical school

HAGERSTOWN, Md. — Faced with a current physician shortage in the region, in the state and in the nation, Meritus Health continues forward with its plan to build an osteopathic medical school in Hagerstown, the proposed Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine. This week, the health system announced a major gift in support of the future school. “As the community’s sole healthcare system, we cannot simply consider the health needs of today, we are responsible for ensuring the future health needs of our community as it grows and welcomes new generations,” said Meritus Health President and CEO and President of the proposed Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine, Maulik Joshi, Dr.P.H. Last July, Meritus announced plans to open a medical school by the year 2025. As the health system continues to meet all accreditation and licensure milestones, including hiring an inaugural dean and breaking ground on a 200-thousand square foot, state-of-the-art academic building, it shares another large announcement this July - a major donation from the Jone L. Bowman Family Foundation of $6 million to support the capital costs of the building. “We are extremely grateful for the Jone L. Bowman Family Foundation’s incredible donation to support our vision,” Joshi said. “Their family is so committed to our community, and this support is absolutely incredible. It surely will mean our children and grandchildren have access to the care they need and deserve. We are so proud to share that our flagship academic building will be named the D.M. Bowman Academic Hall in honor of this tremendous support, a location that is so much more than a building, it will inspire and educate future generations of socially responsible physicians.” Joshi said that as of July, the community has pledged more than $11 million in total towards the school. The Meritus Healthcare Foundation is promoting a capital campaign, and community members interested in supporting the school can learn more at 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 thrilledto develop a customized giving plan to support what matters most to you.

Meritus Health

CONTACT

11116 Medical Campus Road

Hagerstown, MD 21742

MERITUSHEALTH.COM


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