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Jun 3, 2025

Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine offers 15 scholarships to incoming students

Financial awards for inaugural class total more than $1.6 million. HAGERSTOWN, Md. — The Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine (MSOM) will offer more than $1.6 million in scholarships to 15 students in its first class over the next four years. That includes one full scholarship; the remainder are partial scholarships. The inaugural class of 90 students is due to fill the D.M. Bowman Academic Hall in July. Funding for the scholarships comes from Meritus Health, its leaders and physicians, and its volunteers, as well as the Washington County Chamber of Commerce. “We are extraordinarily proud of our health system and business community for stepping up to help our students,” said MSOM President Maulik Joshi, Dr.P.H. “This group of bright and dedicated young people will be able to focus less on finances and more on training to become physicians who will be socially responsible, professionally accomplished and community oriented.” Some of the scholarships are standard grants awarded annually based on merit and/or financial need and contingent upon students maintaining high performance. However, many are structured as forgivable loans, requiring students to work for the health system for a period of time after graduation. The Meritus Medical Center Auxiliary established the first scholarship in MSOM’s history, the Meritus Auxiliary Regional Scholars Program. The scholarship covers full tuition over four years totaling $220,000 for one student. Auxiliary President Gerry Philp said the school’s mission to educate more physicians and keep them in this region aligned with the Auxiliary’s mission of supporting the activities of Meritus Medical Center. “We thought this was a very good cause,” he said. “We had given money to the school in the capital campaign, and we wanted to see it successful, so we thought it would be good to do a full scholarship versus a partial, and we had the funds available to commit.” Other scholarships and donors include: Meritus Health Scholars Program Four scholarships of $25,000 for each of four years for a total of $100,000 per recipient. 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. Donor: This scholarship was funded by the MSOM president. 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 Donor: This scholarship was funded by donations from Meritus senior leaders. Meritus Physicians' Scholarship Awarded to two students in the inaugural MSOM class. The scholarship award will be $25,000 per year for four years for a total of $100,000 each. Donor: This scholarship was funded by donations from Meritus physicians. Chamber of Commerce Scholarship Six scholarships of $26,000 for each of four years for a total of $104,000 over four years. 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, 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.

May 30, 2025

MSOM Faculty Publish Breakthrough Research on Alzheimer’s Disease in Biomolecules Journal

The Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine (MSOM) proudly announces that Dr. Venkata Atluri and Dr. Samuel Kadavakollu have published a significant research article in the peer-reviewed journal Biomolecules. The article, titled "Inflammasome-Mediated Neuroinflammation: A Key Driver in Alzheimer’s Disease Pathogenesis," explores the critical role of inflammasomes in the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Their study sheds new light on the molecular mechanisms behind neuroinflammation and its contribution to Alzheimer’s, potentially paving the way for targeted therapies aimed at mitigating disease progression. The publication reflects the growing recognition of MSOM faculty for their impactful contributions to neurodegenerative disease research. Read the complete article by visiting: https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/15/5/676

May 15, 2025

Brian Kessler, D.O., named new dean of Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine

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. ### 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.

May 8, 2025

Several MSOM faculty members published in the International Journal of Osteopathic Medicine

The Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine (MSOM) proudly announces that Drs. Kadavakollu, George, and Atluri have been published in the International Journal of Osteopathic Medicine (IJOM), a leading peer-reviewed journal in the field. This achievement underscores MSOM's commitment to advancing osteopathic research and education. Learn more by visiting the article at: https://www.clinicalkey.com/#!/content/journal/1-s2.0-S1746068925000148

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.

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.

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.

Sep 18, 2024

Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine receives OK for first class

MSOM will be the first new medical school in Maryland in over 100 years After 1,000 days of continuous planning, enrollment is now open for the Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine for the fall 2025 semester. The school received conditional approval to operate in Maryland as an in-state degree-granting institution from the Maryland Higher Education Commission and pre-accreditation from the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation. “We started on this path to fill the critical shortage of physicians in our community, the state and the nation,” said Maulik Joshi, Dr.P.H., Meritus president and CEO. “Now, we’ve taken the steps that will create generational change.” There are not enough physicians in the United States to meet the needs of our population. By the year 2030, there is a projected shortage of 124,000 physicians, and in Washington County alone, studies indicate a current shortage of 52 physicians. Additionally, in Maryland, one out of three physicians are over the age of 60. The Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine will be the first medical school opened in Maryland in more than 100 years. “We are fortunate to have outstanding medical schools in Maryland with the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the University of Maryland School of Medicine and we are honored to contribute to the growth of undergraduate medical education in our state,” said Dr. Paula Gregory, founding Dean of the Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine. “Our MSOM mission is to train socially responsible, professionally accomplished and community-oriented physicians.” What will the first students find on campus? The first class, the class of 2029, will include 90 medical students and future classes will be at 180 students. The D.M. Bowman Academic Hall, which will be the school’s main building, has been under construction for about two years on the Meritus Medical Center campus off Robinwood Drive near Hagerstown. The academic hall is slated to be completed by December 2024. The 200,000-square-foot, five-story building will house a state-of-the-art simulation center, simulation labs, classrooms and a conference center that can host up to 1,000 people. The adjacent Meritus Commons will provide student housing through 340 one- and two-bedroom apartments. The complex will also include a club house, commons area and dog park. The first 90 units will be completed in time for the first class. What is the projected economic impact of the Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine? An independent economic impact study performed by Tripp Umbach shows the Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine will bring considerable benefits to the region. Capital impacts from 2023-2026 are estimated at $268 million dollars, with 1,595 jobs created and estimated tax revenue of $6.2 million dollars. Once the school welcomes its first class, an estimated $500 million of economic impact is expected between 2025 and 2030, with more than $120 million per year to the Maryland GDP every year beyond 2030. How can I learn more about the new medical school? For more information about the Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine, including details on academics, tuition and fees and how to apply, visit www.msom.org.

May 17, 2024

Meritus celebrates groundbreaking of student housing complex

Community leaders and supporters were joined by elected officials and community members Thursday evening to celebrate a groundbreaking ceremony for the student housing complex for the proposed Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine. The complex, Meritus Commons, will include 340 one- and two-bedroom student apartments, a club house, commons area and dog park. The first 90 units will be completed in time for the proposed medical school’s first class to move in before the fall 2025 semester. The complex is just a quarter mile from the school’s flagship building, the D.M. Bowman Academic Hall, adjacent to the Meritus Medical Center campus, and will be accessible by a walking trail. “As we discussed our vision for the school, it was so clear that we wanted to provide a full campus experience for our students. It is essential that the students live here in Washington County,” said Dr. Paula Gregory, Dean of the proposed medical school. “By planting firm roots in our community, our hope and vision is that students will stay and practice medicine here and will love this community as much as we do.” Dave Lehr, Chief Operating Officer for the proposed medical school, told attendees the celebration was truly a celebration of Meritus’ investment in the community’s future, where there are ample physicians to provide essential services, one where the economy is bolstered and thriving, and one where higher education is accessible and poignant. “This is a critically important part of developing a world-class medical school in our community,” he said. “We aim to attract the best medical students in the country to our program. Part of attending medical school is living on campus, becoming part of the community and having access to all of the support that’s needed to thrive through such an arduous program.” Proposed Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine The school’s flagship academic medical building, D.M. Bowman Academic Hall, remains on schedule for construction completion at the end of this year. The 200,000-square-foot, five-story building will house a state-of-the-art simulation center, simulation labs and a conference center that can host more than 600 people. Economic impact An independent economic impact study performed by Tripp Umbach shows the proposed Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine will bring considerable benefits to the region. Capital impacts from 2023-2026 are estimated at $268 million dollars, with 1,595 jobs created and estimated tax revenue of $6.2 million dollars. Once the school welcomes its first class, an estimated $500 million of economic impact is expected between 2025 and 2030, with more than $120 million per year to the Maryland GDP every year beyond 2030. “We know that health, education and the economy are all connected. Improving the economy of our region also enhances the health and wellness of our neighbors,” said Maulik Joshi, Meritus Health President and CEO. “We are thrilled to have a project that will improve and enhance so many important factors related to the quality of life in Washington County.”

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.

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.

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.

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