News & Updates
Dr. Kessler will start on July 1
HAGERSTOWN, Md. — Meritus Health is pleased to announce that, following a national search, Brian A. Kessler, D.O., D.H.A., FACOFP dist., has been selected as the new dean of the Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine.
He will officially assume his role on July 1.
“We are thrilled to have Dr. Kessler join us as we start this new journey in providing world-class education to our medical students,” said Meritus President and CEO Maulik Joshi, Dr.P.H. “He brings the right knowledge and skill to train physicians who will be socially responsible, professionally accomplished and community oriented.”
Dr. Kessler brings to MSOM more than two decades of leadership experience in academic medicine, clinical education and institutional advancement. He currently serves as dean and professor of family medicine at Campbell University's Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine in Buies Creek, N.C. Before that, he held key leadership positions, including dean at Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tenn., and director of medical education at Cleveland Clinic South Pointe Hospital in Ohio.
Dr. Kessler earned his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine and Doctor of Healthcare Administration from the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Pennsylvania. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (NBOME) and the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA), where he contributes to developing national policies and accreditation standards in osteopathic medical education.
"I am honored to join Meritus at this pivotal moment," Dr. Kessler said. "This is more than the founding of a medical school; it represents a profound investment in the future of health care for Maryland and the surrounding region. I look forward to working with the Meritus Health team, our community partners, and local leaders to prepare physicians who will serve with excellence, compassion and a deep commitment to the communities they call home."
MSOM was created by Meritus Health’s forward-thinking Board of Directors and leadership to help solve the problem of fewer physicians in the profession across the region and the nation.
“The Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine represents a bold commitment to improving healthcare in Western Maryland and the surrounding region,” Dr. Kessler said. “I look forward to working alongside the Meritus Health team to build an academic model that responds directly to the needs of the communities we serve.”
MSOM is the first medical school to open its doors in Maryland in more than 100 years. The first class, the class of 2029, will have 90 students and will be on campus in July. Future classes will be 180 students.
“Welcoming the inaugural class is a once-in-a-career opportunity,” Dr. Kessler said. “These students will help define our identity, culture and future. I am excited to support their growth as physicians who will lead with skill, compassion and purpose.”
To learn more about the Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine, visit msom.org.
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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.