Community spirit: MSOM student gets full scholarship

The Meritus Auxiliary Regional Scholars Program covers tuition for Hagerstown resident. 

Isaiah Stevens, a member of the inaugural class of the Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine, said the school’s focus on service resonated with him.

“I really believe in the mission of the school, which has a big emphasis on community,” said the Washington state native who has lived in Hagerstown with his wife, Leigha, for the past three years. “Volunteerism is built into the curriculum. They teach students to be mindful of community service.”

So, it’s fitting he received the Meritus Auxiliary Regional Scholars Program scholarship to attend MSOM. The scholarship, paid for by the all-volunteer organization, covers full tuition over four years totaling $220,000 for one student.

“It’s a very big honor to receive something like this from people who do what they do without expectation of money in return,” he said. “They are the kind of people I’d like to be.”

Isaiah’s scholarship is one of 14 awarded to students in MSOM’s inaugural class. Many of the scholarships are structured as forgivable loans, requiring students to work for Meritus Health for a period of time after graduation.

Funding for the scholarships comes from health system leaders, physicians and the community. The scholarships total more than $1.4 million over four years.

In addition to the auxiliary scholarship, other scholarships and recipients include:

Meritus Health Scholars Program

Three scholarships of $25,000 for each of four years for a total of $100,000 per recipient.

Recipients: Anjali Sodhi of Ellicott City, Maryland; Calvin Suoto of Mickleton, New Jersey; John Knight of Bealeton, Virginia

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. 

Recipient: Nashat Zaman of Goleta, California

Donor: This scholarship was funded by the MSOM president and family.

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.

Recipient: Zachary Appel of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Donor: This scholarship was funded by donations from Meritus senior leaders. 

Meritus Physicians' 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.

Recipient: Michal Zaniewski of Staten Island, New York

Donor: This scholarship was funded by donations from Meritus physicians. 

Chamber of Commerce Scholarship

Five scholarships of $26,000 for each of four years for a total of $104,000 over four years.

Recipients: Caleb Bean of Windber, Pennsylvania; Jocelyn Chen of Boyds, Maryland; Jose Ildefonso Flores of Gaithersburg, Maryland; Neeraj Kumar of California, Maryland; Ian Roe of Ellicott City, Maryland

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 Scholarship

Two scholarships from Meritus Health awarded to exceptional students. Award amounts are determined by the scholarship committee.

Recipients: Brenna Posner of Bethesda, Maryland, $5,000; Rishabh Saha of Rockville, Maryland, $10,000