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 have launched 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."

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:MSOM partners with the University of Maryland to streamline the path to becoming a physician
Oct 6, 2025

MSOM partners with the University of Maryland to streamline the path to becoming a physician

Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine’s Pathways Program reflects the school’s commitment to removing barriers to becoming a doctor. The Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine and the University of Maryland have partnered to make it easier for qualified students and alumni to become physicians. The university is one of six schools to participate in the MSOM guaranteed interview Pathways Program. “Qualified students at partner institutions benefit from the program directly by getting a guaranteed interview for MSOM’s Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine program,” said Chanté Richardson, PhD, MBA, Associate Dean of Student Services and Community Engagement at MSOM. "Beyond the guaranteed interview, students will gain early access to valuable pre-medical resources, including MCAT preparation workshops, D.O. student shadowing opportunities, and other MSOM-sponsored pre-admission activities designed to support students on their journey to medical school," she said. The program aims to prepare physicians to care for real communities, particularly those that need it most. "The mission of the MSOM is to train physicians who will be socially responsible, professionally accomplished, and community-oriented," Richardson said. "We are thrilled to launch this partnership, especially as 15 percent of MSOM’s inaugural class are University of Maryland alumni. This collaboration reflects MSOM’s commitment to removing barriers and expanding opportunities for promising future physicians." “We are excited that the first osteopathic medical school in Maryland matriculated its inaugural class. We look forward to working closely with the admissions team at Meritus to secure MCAT mentorship, clinical shadowing, and guaranteed interviews for Terps pursuing the D.O. path,” said Wendy Loughlin, Assistant Dean and Director of UMD’s Reed-Yorke Health Professions Advising Office. The MSOM Pathways Program is currently available to undergrads and recent alumni at the University of Maryland, Frostburg State University, Harrisburg University of Science and Technology, Samuel Merritt University, Shepherd University and Susquehanna University. Eligible students at partner institutions must: Be currently enrolled at or have graduated within the last two years from the partner institution at the time of application. Be in good academic, professional, and disciplinary standing at the partner institution. Meet minimum academic requirements set by MSOM (including coursework, GPA, and MCAT expectations). Receive a strong letter of recommendation from the partner institution. To learn more about the Pathways program, visit www.MSOM.org/Pathways.

MSOM NEWS:MSOM dean named vice chairman of Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation
Sep 29, 2025

MSOM dean named vice chairman of Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation

Dr. Brian Kessler is also chief academic officer of the Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine. The dean of the Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine (MSOM) was recently named the vice chairman of the commission that oversees accreditation standards and procedures for colleges of osteopathic medicine. Brian Kessler, D.O., FACOFP, was recently named to the position on the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA), part of the American Osteopathic Association. “I am honored and privileged to hold this title on the commission recognized by U.S. Department of Education as the accreditor of colleges of osteopathic medicine,” Kessler said. “It is very meaningful to help oversee and guide the process of organizations dedicated to training future physicians in osteopathic medicine in our country.” COCA accreditation signifies that a college has met or exceeded the commission’s standards for educational quality. The American Osteopathic Association represents more than 197,000 osteopathic physicians and medical students across the United States. To learn more about COCA, visit osteopathic.org/accreditation. To learn more about MSOM, visit MSOM.org.

MSOM NEWS:Ribbon cut on Meritus Commons
Sep 23, 2025

Ribbon cut on Meritus Commons

Complex provides housing for students at Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine. The housing complex for Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine students is officially open. Community leaders, elected officials and school supporters gathered Monday, Sept. 22, to cut the ribbon on the Meritus Commons complex, as well as to reveal the names of the buildings. “This is a naming ceremony as much as a ribbon-cutting,” said Dave Lehr, MSOM chief operating officer and Meritus Health chief strategy officer. “We are here to recognize the six people and organizations who have given their time, talent and treasure to make Meritus Commons and the Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine a reality.” Buildings in the complex will be named for: The Rev. Dr. Stuart Dunnan, chair of the MSOM board of directors The Alice Virginia and David W. Fletcher Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Howard “Blackie” Bowen Chintamaneni Choudari, M.D., a member of the MSOM board James Stojak, chair of the Meritus Health board of directors Middletown Valley Bank Maryland Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller and U.S. Rep. April McClain Delaney were among the speakers at the event who noted the steps Meritus Health took to provide housing for its new students, given the limited housing resources in Washington County. “Here in Hagerstown, you go big or you go home,” Miller said. “And with this medical school and this student housing, Meritus is definitely going big.” They also remarked on how MSOM is addressing the need for more physicians in Maryland and across the country. “This is a model for the whole country,” Delaney said. “You are setting the example for how we are going to find more doctors for our rural communities.” In addition, there are benefits to MSOM students, such as on-campus housing that allows them to walk to the D.M. Bowman Academic Hall, physician practices in Robinwood Professional Center and Meritus Medical Center. The on-campus housing also means MSOM students are spending their money in Maryland and not neighboring states. But most importantly, the students will become part of a rural community and develop relationships that will result in them practicing in our community or another rural community in Maryland. The $90 million complex includes 340 one- and two-bedroom student apartments, a clubhouse, commons area, pickleball and basketball courts and dog park. There are almost 90 students living on campus. As has been noted by many, Maryland has a housing crisis characterized by the availability of affordable housing, and Meritus leaned in and built housing to support the medical students. The housing complex supports MSOM, which was created to help alleviate the shortage of physicians locally and nationally. The school welcomed its first class of more than 90 students this summer, and future classes at MSOM will number 180 students each. To learn more about Meritus Commons, visit https://commons.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 thrilled to develop a customized giving plan to support what matters most to you.