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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.

Sep 8, 2025

Maryland Physicians Care supports Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine Scholarships

MPC provided $624,000 grant to address critical physician shortage. Maryland Physicians Care (MPC) provided a grant to fund scholarships at the Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine. “MPC, a local Medicaid-managed care organization owned by Meritus Health, Ascension Saint Agnes, Holy Cross Health, and UPMC Western Maryland, gave $624,000 to the Washington County Chamber of Commerce to establish scholarships for six students,” said MPC President and CEO Jason Rottman. Each student will receive $26,000 per year for four years, totaling $104,000 each. “MPC recognizes the growing shortage of healthcare professionals in our state and actively seeks ways to alleviate that issue,” Rottman said. “This scholarship grant will financially assist in the education of six new doctors, directly adding resources to our healthcare community. We hope these new physicians will not only stay in Maryland but will choose to stay in the underserved rural community where they were trained.” MPC works to improve health outcomes by addressing the factors that impact its members’ well-being and providers’ effectiveness. Addressing rising physician shortages (predicted to reach 86,000 fewer physicians than needed nationally by 2036) is just one of the goals. MPC has also provided funding to many organizations throughout Maryland to addresses non-medical factors such as food insecurity, transportation and housing. This includes partnering to provide non-emergent medical transportation for patients in need, supplying food for needy families and, in several locations, delivering that food to those with limited transportation. To learn more about MSOM, visit msom.org. To learn more about MPC, visit marylandphysicianscare.com.

Sep 3, 2025

MSOM Student Garry “Tony” Graham II Appointed to the MAOP Student Advisory Board

Garry “Tony” Graham II (OMS-I) has been appointed to the Maryland Association of Osteopathic Physicians (MAOP) Student Advisory Board for the 2025-2026 term. The advisory board is a dedicated group of students committed to advancing medical education, advocacy, and professional development. The board plays a pivotal role in shaping MAOP initiatives by providing valuable insights, leadership, and fresh ideas from a student’s perspective. Advisory board members’ contributions help ensure programs remain innovative, relevant, and aligned with the evolving needs of osteopathic physicians in training.

Sep 2, 2025

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

Aug 25, 2025

MSOM Student Archita Padmanabhan Appointed to the MAOP Student Advisory Board

Archita Padmanabhan (OMS-I) has been appointed to the Maryland Association of Osteopathic Physicians (MAOP) Student Advisory Board for the 2025-2026 term. The advisory board is a dedicated group of students committed to advancing medical education, advocacy, and professional development. The board plays a pivotal role in shaping MAOP initiatives by providing valuable insights, leadership, and fresh ideas from a student’s perspective. Advisory board members’ contributions help ensure programs remain innovative, relevant, and aligned with the evolving needs of osteopathic physicians in training.

Aug 21, 2025

MSOM Student Lavinia Harrison Appointed to the MAOP Student Advisory Board

Lavinia Harrison (OMS-I) has been appointed to the Maryland Association of Osteopathic Physicians (MAOP) Student Advisory Board for the 2025-2026 term. The advisory board is a dedicated group of students committed to advancing medical education, advocacy, and professional development. The board plays a pivotal role in shaping MAOP initiatives by providing valuable insights, leadership, and fresh ideas from a student’s perspective. Advisory board members’ contributions help ensure programs remain innovative, relevant, and aligned with the evolving needs of osteopathic physicians in training.

Jul 28, 2025

MSOM students receive white coats, mark milestone

Inaugural class of the Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine participates in tradition symbolizing start of their journey to becoming a physician. HAGERSTOWN, Md. — Members of the inaugural class of the Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine marked a milestone Friday, receiving their white medical coats symbolizing their start on the journey to becoming doctors of osteopathic medicine. The ceremony, the culmination of a week of orientation for the students, is a tradition for medical students. “This ceremony is not only a rite of passage, but also a visible reminder of the responsibility our students are about to embrace,” said Chanté Richardson, Ph.D., MBA, associate dean of student services and community engagement. The class of 97 students were joined by hundreds of family and friends who filled the Alice Virginia & David W. Fletcher Conference Center in the D.M. Bowman Academic Hall. “I know we all got here because someone helped us,” said Maulik Joshi, Dr.P.H., president of the medical school. “Be it a parent, a family member, a friend, a spouse, a teacher, a physician. And that help is going to continue on your journey here at MSOM.” He noted that the students, being the first class of the new medical school, would have upon their graduation the privilege of signing a steel beam that was signed by Meritus staff and community members when the academic hall was constructed. “As the inaugural class, you're the foundation for the future,” he said. “That steel beam represents the foundation of the academic building, just as all of you represent the foundation of this medical school.” The beam is on display in the school lobby. Atif Chaudhry, Secretary of the Maryland Department of General Services, presented a state flag that flew atop the Maryland State House in Annapolis. He noted that the state and nation is in desperate need of physicians. In fact, there will be a projected shortage of 124,000 physicians in the United States by 2030. There is a shortage of roughly 50 physicians just in Washington County, Md. MSOM was built to help solve the shortage crisis locally and in Maryland. It’s the first civilian medical school to open its doors in the state in more than 100 years. “There is a reason the governor chose to fly this flag on July 4,” Chaudhry said. “July 4 is symbolic, not only of the birth of our nation, but also of growth and prosperity. And that is just like here today, it’s a symbol of a new beginning.” Meena Seshamani, M.D., Ph.D., the secretary of the Maryland Department of Health, congratulated the students on their achievement and what they are about to become. “The journey you all are about to embark on will allow you to challenge yourselves, to grow professionally and personally, and you’ll support each other,” she said. “You're going to be able to help this health system and this school to grow.” Dr. Seshamani noted the importance of the students being part of the first class. “You all will be the epitome of what it means to practice holistic care,” she said. “It will be your faces, hands and brains driving all of that forward, not only for the state of Maryland, but also for the country.” Brian Kessler, D.O., dean of MSOM, encouraged the students to take to heart what they will learn. “Go out and change lives,” he said. To learn more about the Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine, visit msom.org.

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.

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