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For Meritus volunteer, a cup of tea or coffee brings smiles, comfort
April 23, 2025
Sultan Goren had been an assistant middle school principal in Turkey before she came to America about a year ago. And sometimes, she had to meet with parents or teachers who might not have wanted to meet with her. “Whether it was a parent or a teacher, when they are nervous, I tell them, ‘Let us have tea or coffee. Come in my office. We can solve the problem,’” Goren said. “It works the same in the U.S.” That’s one reason why she enjoys volunteering with Tea for the Soul at Meritus Medical Center. Tea for the Soul started in 2019. Volunteers walk a cart with coffee, tea and hot chocolate to different floors in the hospital, offering a beverage to hospital team members who might need a moment of respite and peace, especially during a busy shift, said Jessica Casey, Meritus director of volunteer services. “It’s also a way we can thank them for all they do to provide care and compassion to our patients,” she said. With each cup, Goren also offers a smile. “I serve because I think, smiling people, it’s good for me,” she said. “I’m happy.” But she gets more than just smiles by volunteering at the hospital two or three days a week. She learns about U.S. culture and how Meritus operates daily to provide the best healthcare possible to its patients. The balance of her time is spent as a paraprofessional teacher for Washington County Public Schools and at Hagerstown Community College taking English classes. Her hope, though, is to get a full-time job working at the hospital. “My friends said to start as a volunteer,” she said. From what she’s learned, she is impressed with how the hospital functions. “Everyone is always helpful with everything,” After working 20 years in Turkey, she’s come to know when an organization operates at a high level. “It’s a very good system, Meritus,” she said. “As I continue to work at Meritus Health, I realize even more how valuable the support and help here are. I am so grateful for the chance they have given me.” For those who might be interested in volunteering, she said she recommends the opportunity, especially if they enjoy smiles. “A smile always works,” she said. “Everywhere.” To learn more about volunteering at Meritus Health, visit www.meritushealth.com/volunteers, or call 301-790-8143.
John R. Marsh Cancer Center volunteer brings smile amid sadness
April 21, 2025
Volunteering in a cancer center is not an easy job. “You have to have a lot of compassion,” said Reba Cole, who has volunteered at Meritus Medical Center for nine years, most of them at the John R. Marsh Cancer Center. “You have to be able to deal with patients and know that you’re probably going to lose some of them.” Cole said she’s seen volunteers last only a few days at the cancer center because the emotions of the job took too much of a toll. But for the right person, volunteering at the cancer center can be rewarding, she said. “There’s a patient here who always calls me her angel,” Cole said. “I believe a smile goes a long way.” Cole had worked for Bechtel construction services for 38 years before retiring. But shortly after her retirement, she began to feel depressed. Her grandson was a volunteer in the Meritus Medical Center gift shop and suggested she try doing the same thing. Cole started at the health system’s Repeat Performance Thrift store, but it wasn’t a good fit. The director of volunteer services at the time thought she’d do well at the cancer center. Her duties include providing warm blankets and snacks to patients and visitors and helping nurses with anything they might need. She also cleans the room once a patient leaves to make it ready for the next patient. She also speaks to patients. “Many are scared and don’t want to talk,” Cole said in a gentle voice. “But I try to bring them out of their sadness and get them to talk.” Part of her success might be her own experience. She said she had a rough upbringing as a foster child. She lost her stepdaughter to cancer. She lost her husband to Covid. “You have to be able to separate yourself from the situation,” she said. “You have to be there for them.” For those thinking about volunteering for Meritus, Cole said it’s something you can do, especially when you’re older or retired, like her. “It’s a way of giving back,” she said. To learn more about volunteering at Meritus Health, visit www.meritushealth.com/volunteers, or call 301-790-8143.
Brook Lane offers psychological testing for youth, adolescents
April 18, 2025
The service responds to a regional need for access to testing HAGERSTOWN, Md. — Two Brook Lane outpatient offices are now offering psychological testing of young people. “Brook Lane is responding to a regional need for psychological testing of children and adolescents,” said Emmet Burke, Ph.D., J.D., a Brook Lane psychologist. “Testing has required travel, and waiting lists are typically a year or longer.” Testing is available at the Brook Lane Cumberland Outpatient office on West Industrial Boulevard in Cumberland, Md., and the Brook Lane Thrive Outpatient office in North Village off Longmeadow Road near Maugans Avenue north of Hagerstown. The testing is administered by a licensed clinical psychologist to assess for: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Intellectual deficits Various mood, anxiety and behavioral concerns Psychological testing uses standardized assessments to evaluate a person’s behavior and provide a deeper, comprehensive understanding of their strengths and weaknesses. “Assessment for autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, intellectual disability, depression or anxiety is the first step to effective treatment for children and teens,” Dr. Burke said. Brook Lane uses a three-step process for psychological testing. First, the psychologist will meet with the child and their parent/caregiver for a clinical interview to gather background information and presenting symptoms. This appointment lasts for approximately one hour. If the psychologist determines that testing is necessary, a second appointment is scheduled for the testing, during which standardized assessments are administered. If insurance requires pre-authorization, this will be submitted after the first appointment and testing will be scheduled once approval is obtained. This appointment can last for two to three hours. As part of the testing process, parents and teachers will also be asked to complete standardized questionnaires to obtain more information about the child’s behavior across settings. The final step is a one-hour appointment to discuss the testing results and recommendations. The psychologist provides a comprehensive report detailing the results and diagnosis to be shared with other professionals and providers. Those with concerns about their child’s daily functioning and the possibility of autism or ADHD might consider psychological testing at Brook Lane. ### 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.
Advance directives let you speak for yourself when you aren’t able to
April 14, 2025
It’s a hard scenario to envision, but it’s something everyone should think about. What type of care and medical treatment do you want if you become unable to make decisions for yourself? A car crash or a sudden illness could leave you incapacitated and unable to speak. The best thing to do is to plan ahead, said Susan Lyons, nurse practitioner and supervisor of supportive and palliative care at Meritus Medical Center. April 16 is National Healthcare Decisions Day, a day to make, discuss and legally document future healthcare wishes and decisions in your advance care planning, also known as advance directives. This year, Meritus has set a goal of getting 250 new advance directives filed by Wednesday. “Meritus Health offers guidance and documents to help with this planning, and this is available to you at no charge,” Lyons said. Advance directive forms are broken into two sections. The first part allows you to designate a person to be your medical decision maker. “It’s called a healthcare agent, but you also might have heard it called a ‘medical proxy’ or a ‘medical power of attorney,’” Lyons said. “But it’s all the same thing.” She advises you select someone who understands your values, stays calm in crisis situations and speaks up to ask difficult questions. The second part is called a living will. “It speaks for you when you can’t speak for yourself,” Lyons said, “if you’re ever in a serious medical condition and the doctors think it is not survivable.” The document allows you to say what you value at the end of your life. “The living will allows you to tell us what your wishes are about certain mechanical or artificial means of support,” Lyons said. “A lot of people have really strong feelings about things like breathing machines and feeding tubes. And we're obligated to honor your wishes.” A living will also allows you to dictate whether you stay in a hospital or return to your home. Either decision will mean a particular medical team to care for you. While returning home might remove unwanted and lengthy hospital stays, it could also mean support from a home hospice agency and round-the-clock supervision by family or friends. “It’s important to discuss these things with your loved ones,” Lyons said. “They’re not always easy decisions to make, but they do matter.” An advance directive becomes legally valid when you sign the document. However, it typically goes into effect when the doctor in charge of your care decides that you have lost the ability to make informed decisions about your health care. In Maryland, the document must be witnessed by two individuals, but it does not require a notarized signature or the involvement of an attorney. After completing the advance directive, give a signed copy to your family and friends who will be involved in your care, your health care agent and your primary care provider. To learn more about advance directives or to find related documents, visit www.meritushealth.com/AdvanceDirectives.
Partner organizations find health in Go for Bold
April 7, 2025
Go for Bold is a community effort to lose 1 million pounds by 2030, and more than just individual community members have joined the effort. More than 90 corporate and organization partners have also encouraged their employees to become part of the program. “One of the things we tell people who participate in Go for Bold is to believe in themselves, and one way to do that is by connecting with a person who has a similar purpose as you,” said Beth Fields Dowdell, DNP, CRNP, director of Community Health and Outpatient Care Management at Meritus Health. “By engaging corporate and organization partners, we build in that group participation, which can lead to successful outcomes.” The Go for Bold initiative was started by Healthy Washington County, a coalition of public and private organizations, including Meritus, with a mission to strengthen the health and wellness of our community and residents. The initiative was sparked after a Community Health Needs Assessment found Washington County residents had high rates of chronic illness, such as diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure, among others. To reach the 1 million pounds lost goal by 2030, the program encourages activity, healthy diet and accountability. So far, more than 169,600 pounds have been lost, according to the program’s online weight tracker. By visiting healthywashingtoncounty.com/goforbold, users will find tools to help them lose weight. Those tools tend to focus around activity, diet and mental health — or do, eat, believe. Groups and businesses that have been part of the initiative since the start are touting their success. “The Washington County Commission on Aging, Inc. is proud to share our staff’s remarkable commitment to the Go for Bold Initiative from its inception, which has led to a collective weight loss of 1,127 pounds as a team,” said Amy Olack, CEO of the WCCOA, one of the partner organizations. Olack attributed WCCOA’s success with the program to a work culture that encourages health habits and overall well-being. Staff has free, after-hours access to an on-site gym, outdoor fitness equipment, walking paths and a reflexology path. “Our Wellness Committee plays a vital role in fostering a culture of health by encouraging team members to engage in regular exercise, adopt healthier eating habits, and participate in wellness challenges throughout the year,” Olack said. “The committee also provides helpful reminders to stay hydrated and take walking breaks, reinforcing the importance of consistent, small steps toward better health.” Washington County Public Schools is another partner organization, which has lost a total of 1,641 pounds since it joined the program. “As WCPS is one of the largest employers in Washington County, we feel we could and can continue to reach a good number of people to participate and strengthen the health and wellness of the Washington County community and residents,” said Kathleen Boyer, coordinator of human resources: employee benefits. The school system incentivizes employees monthly to participate in Go for Bold, Boyer said. The number of participants is growing. “In November 2024, we won an award at the Go for Bold celebration for being one of the organizational partners with the most improvement in our efforts to Go for Bold,” Boyer said. “That, to me, shows we have gained more employee participation, communicated the initiative better, and worked towards our goal of being a healthier workplace and community.” Olack said that while everyone’s health journey is unique, it’s important to support each other with encouragement and positivity. “Our shared commitment has strengthened our team and improved our overall health, empowering us to serve our community with greater energy and focus,” she said. To learn more about becoming a partner organization in Go for Bold, visit healthywashingtoncounty.com/goforbold, then scroll down to and click on “Partner Resources.”
Meritus earns top honors in 2025 Best of the Tristate awards
April 1, 2025
HAGERSTOWN, Md. — Meritus Health is proud to announce its practices and providers came in first place in numerous categories for the Verstandig Media’s Best of the Tristate 2025 awards. Meritus Medical Center was named Best Hospital in the annual voting competition, which is highly regarded throughout Maryland, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. It’s the fifth year in a row the hospital has earned the title. In addition to the hospital, Meritus physicians and practices were also winners for the following categories: • Best Plastic Surgeon: Salvatore DiMercurio, M.D.• Best Cardiology Office: Meritus Hagerstown Heart• Best Urgent Care: Meritus Urgent Care The health system’s providers and practices were named finalists for Best Cardiologist, Best General Surgeon, Best Physical Therapist, Best Nurse, Best Outpatient Surgery Center, Best Physical Rehabilitation Center, Best Physical Therapy and best Orthopedic Clinic. Also, Brook Lane Health Services, an affiliate of Meritus Health, was a finalist for Best Mental Health Services. “We are proud to receive these awards and finalist nominations because the votes come from our community and team members,” said Maulik Joshi, Dr.P.H., Meritus president and CEO. “Our mission is to improve the health of the community, and we continue to grow to meet that challenge by bringing expert care close to home.” To meet the growing need for mental health services, the health system worked with Brook Lane in 2023 to open the Meritus Mental Health Walk-in facility. Located at the Orange Entrance to the Robinwood Professional Center, the office is there for anyone age 6 and older who needs a mental healthcare provider. The health system, Washington County’s only integrated health system and one of the region’s largest employers, is also in the process of raising its minimum wage to $20 per hour by 2027. So far, pay has been increased to at least $18 per hour for all employees. “Every day, we put the patient at the center of all we do,” Joshi said. “It is gratifying to know that the tristate community recognizes our effort, and they should know that we will continue doing it.” ### 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.
Special Olympian returns to Meritus
March 26, 2025
Candi Blessing, who works in the Nutrition Services Department, nabbed three medals at the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Italy After winning three medals at the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Turin, Italy, Candi Blessing returned to her job at Meritus Medical Center with her hardware. The 39-year-old Smithsburg, Md., resident won silver medals in the 200 meters and relay snowshoeing events, and a gold medal in the 100 meters. “So happy,” she said, describing how she felt standing atop the podium with her first-place win. Candi made the trip with some help from her co-workers. The Meritus Health Foundation held a raffle fundraiser, with more than $2,300 going toward her expenses. She has worked at Meritus for 11 years in nutrition services, but she has been competing in Special Olympics for more than 30 years. Aside from snowshoeing, her sports include athletics, basketball and floor hockey. She competed in the 2014 Special Olympics USA Games in athletics in New Jersey. As for her time in Italy before the games, much of it was spent training, she said. But she and the other athletes representing Team USA did get to do a little sight-seeing, including the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, home of the Shroud of Turin. But you can’t tour and train on an empty stomach. Candi said she enjoyed the meals in Turin, which included pasta, rice and pizza. She participated in three races over several days during the games, which ran from March 8 to 15. Her first race was the 200 meters. “I can do it,” she said she was thinking to herself as she ran in her snowshoes against eight other competitors. It was a little different than what she’s used to. Normally, she trains at Whitetail Resort near Mercersburg, Pa. “There was more snow” in Italy, she said, which made it tougher to run. While she was competing, her friends and co-workers back home were keeping up to date. Erin Warner, Candi’s program specialist with the Arc of Washington County, said she was texting Chef Joe Fleischman, head of Meritus’ Nutrition Services Department — and Candi’s boss. For his part, Chef Joe would share the news with the staff. Meanwhile, graphics on Meritus Health’s electronic billboard on Robinwood Drive congratulated Candi and noted her medal haul. Her co-workers were excited to see her when she started back to work this week. “They were so happy,” she said.
Meritus Psychiatry Residency Program matches with five new doctors
March 24, 2025
New program joins Meritus Family Medicine Residency Program HAGERSTOWN, Md. — Meritus Health’s new Psychiatry Residency Program has matched with its first class of five doctors. They’ll be joining the six doctors who matched with the existing Meritus Family Medicine Residency program. “We are excited to welcome our first class of Psychiatry residents,” said Heather Theibert, D.O., program director for the Meritus Psychiatry Residency. “There is an obvious need for mental health professionals in this region and nationally. We are proud to be educating the next generation of psychiatrists to help meet this need with a focus on training psychiatrists who will stay and serve the Washington County area.” Each year, on the heels of graduation, medical students nationwide eagerly await announcement for where they “matched,” meaning where they will spend their next several years in residency. Residency programs serve as structured apprenticeships leading to board certification in a particular specialty. A resident is a physician who is enrolled in this apprenticeship or residency and is overseen by board-certified faculty physicians. The highly selective process results in five medical school graduates being matched with the psychiatry program at Meritus, along with six being matched with the family medicine program. The psychiatry residency is a four-year program for a total of 20 residents once the program is filled out. The family medicine program is a three-year program for a total of 18 residents. “It is a joy to welcome another class of promising doctors into the Meritus Family Medicine Residency Program,” said Stacy Ross, M.D., program director. “The highly skilled faculty physicians and colleagues here are eager to help guide them over the next three years. And these physicians will be working in our family medicine practice, meaning patients get to participate in their educational journey, too.” The Meritus Psychiatry Residency Program of class of 2029 includes graduates from Maryland, Florida and Iowa: · Crist Cuffee, D.O., Ankeny, Iowa; Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine · Claudia Jensen, D.O., Tampa, Fla.; Liberty College of Osteopathic Medicine · Ramya Kolagani, M.D., Ellicott City, Md.; Penn State University College of Medicine · Judy Lau, M.D., Germantown, Md.; Saint Louis University School of Medicine · Oluwaseun Oyewo, M.D., Silver Spring, Md.; University of Medicine and Health Sciences, St. Kitts The Meritus Family Medicine Residency Program class of 2028 includes graduates from Maryland, Virginia, Ohio and Nigeria: · Eyimofe Fakoyede, M.D., Lagos, Nigeria; Medical University of Plovdiv Faculty of Medicine · Luke Horning, D.O., McLean, Va.; West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine · Madeleine Miller, D.O., Cleveland, Ohio; Campbell University Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine · Sofia Paniagua, D.O., Gaithersburg, Md.; New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine · Idongesit Usoroh, M.D., Eket, Nigeria; All Saints University School of Medicine, Dominica · Doopashika Welikala, D.O., Gaithersburg, Md.; Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine Meritus Health plans to launch more residency programs in the coming years as it prepares to welcome the inaugural class of students to the Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine this summer. The school, the first to open in Maryland in more than 100 years, is meant to help close the gap in the number of physician openings regionally and nationwide. To learn more about the Psychiatry and Family Medicine residency programs, visit www.meritushealth.com/residency. 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.
New Meritus plastic surgeon helps cancer patients ‘pick up the pieces’
March 21, 2025
Dr. Eric Maiorino now seeing patients in Hagerstown HAGERSTOWN, Md. — Breast cancer is a traumatic experience for patients, often leaving them questioning who they are because of scars after treatment. Eric Maiorino, M.D., the new surgeon at Meritus Cosmetic & Plastic Surgery, said he’s there to help those patients get back some semblance of their identity. “It’s a difficult time for patients. They’re always very afraid of looking deformed or not themselves,” Maiorino said. “My goal is to help them be able to pick up the pieces.” Maiorino grew up in Queens, N.Y., about 15 blocks away from where his practice partner, Salvatore DiMercurio, M.D., grew up. They even went to the same elementary and middle schools, albeit years apart. After earning his medical degree in 2012 from Temple University School of Medicine in Philadelphia, Maiorino did his residency in general surgery at Temple University Hospital, which, among other things, focused on underserved populations. In 2018, Maiorino began a plastic surgery fellowship at the University of Texas in Houston at Hermann Memorial Hospital. “It was my first rodeo,” he joked, saying he’d never been to a rodeo before living in Texas. He also trained at the MD Anderson Cancer Center, part of the University of Texas. There he focused on reconstructive surgery for people dealing with a variety of cancers. “Plastic surgery is so broad,” he said, noting he gets to work with physicians in everything from cardiology to gastroenterology. “When you think of it, you think it’s just face lifts and breast enhancements. Plastic surgery touches so much more than that.” Eventually, Maiorino moved back to the East Coast and set up a practice in Washington, D.C. He was voted Top Doc the past three years by Washingtonian magazine. He became aware of Meritus Health thanks to its commitment to expanding medical education and training the next generation of doctors. The health system has residency programs in family medicine and psychiatry and is planning to add surgery in the near future. It also is set to open the Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine, the first medical school to open in Maryland in 100 years, this summer. “I was a high school science teacher before I went to medical school, so this interested me,” he said. At Meritus Cosmetic & Plastic Surgery, Maiorino said he hopes to expand services for breast cancer patients, allowing them to avoid traveling out of the area. And he is looking forward to helping grow Meritus’ educational offerings. “I’m excited to help in making this more of an academic center,” he said. To learn more about Meritus Cosmetic & Plastic Surgery or to make an appointment, visit www.meritushealth.com/plastics or call 301-714-4460 in Hagerstown or 717-261-1620 in Chambersburg. ### 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.
Meritus Urology honored again by U.S. News & World Report
March 18, 2025
Outpatient surgery earns ‘High Performing’ rating HAGERSTOWN, Md. — For the second year in a row, the surgical services at Meritus Urology received top ranking from U.S. News & World Report. Meritus Urology’s outpatient surgery earned a “High Performing” rating for ambulatory surgery centers from the pro-consumer media company. It was one of only 708 same-day surgical centers to earn this rating out of nearly 4,400 centers that U.S. News evaluated. "It is a great privilege to be honored two years in a row by U.S. News & World Report," said Dr. Kevin Hackett, Meritus Urology medical director. "I think it shows the commitment to quality care by our staff with the goal of improving the health of our patients." Procedures typically take less than an hour, with just another hour required in recovery. Care can include everything from an enlarged prostate to kidney stone removal. The practice also treats bladder, kidney, prostate and testicular cancers. Services are available for men and women, children and adults. “Because ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) have become an increasingly large part of the U.S. patient experience, U.S. News set out to help consumers, in consultation with their healthcare professionals, identify high quality ASCs,” the publication said in its methodology report. To learn more about Meritus Urology, visit www.MeritusHealth.com/Urology or call 301-733-0022. ### 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.
Mediterranean Diet could be the answer to your health problems
March 17, 2025
March is Nutrition Awareness Month, a time when Americans are encouraged to learn about making informed food choices and developing healthy eating habits. Adopting the Mediterranean Diet has become a popular option among those healthy eating habits. The diet was first publicized by American biologist Ancel Keys and his wife, chemist Margaret Keys, after studies found that certain cultures around the Mediterranean had lower incidents of some chronic illnesses and obesity. “It’s been shown to improve lot of disease states — cardiovascular disease, diabetes, weight loss and other things,” said, Hannah Dinterman, R.D., L.D.N., a bariatric dietitian with Meritus Bariatric Surgical Specialists. “It can also increase longevity.” The Mediterranean Diet is a whole foods diet that focuses on lots of fruits and vegetables, healthy fat sources such as seeds, nuts, fish and lean meats, and plant-based proteins such as chickpeas. A key ingredient in the diet is food containing fiber, Dinterman said. “A diet rich in whole food sources leaves less room for processed foods,” she said. “Fiber helps you feel full. It’s also good for your colon and helps improve cholesterol levels. High-fiber foods in general are usually very health-promoting.” Another factor is that whole foods, especially fruit, contain natural sugars. Not all sugar is a bad thing, Dinterman said. But sugar found in processed food — “stuff that comes in a box” — often has added chemicals and preservatives and is not accompanied by natural fiber and nutrients of foods like fruit. All of this can “affect how the food works to make you feel full,” she said. Even fruit juices, some of which contain good vitamins and minerals, often lack the fiber of their whole beginning fruit. When it comes to planning out your meals under the Mediterranean Diet, Dinterman said there are some basic guidelines. Have fruits and vegetables with most meals, a couple servings per day, she said. Olive oil, whole-grain bread, pasta, rice or couscous and other unprocessed grains should also be included, along with water. At least one meal a day should include olives, nuts or seeds, along with herbs, spices, garlic or onions. Low-fat dairy should be part of one meal per day, too. White meat, like chicken or turkey, along with fish or seafood, can be meals a couple times per week. Eggs should be eaten two to four times a week. Heavy starches like potatoes are OK three times per week. Red or processed meat, like bologna, should be eaten only once a week, if at all, Dinterman said. And save the desserts for only a couple times per week. Dinterman cautioned that the Mediterranean diet, while very healthy, is not always the best option, especially if a person is looking to lose weight. “When we’re looking at diet, we want to look at the patient’s physical and health goals,” she said. “Is it controlling their blood sugar, getting their weight down, reducing risk of colon cancer?” In other words, talk to your primary care provider before embarking on a diet. “You can modify the Mediterranean Diet toward whatever you’re working towards,” she said. Meritus Bariatric Surgical Specialists have a program designed to help patients lose weight through surgery, but sometimes diet and lifestyle modification can do the trick. To learn more, visit meritushealth.com/Weightloss.
Meritus Scholar-Con highlights research, scholarly activity
March 14, 2025
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. ### 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.