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Asthma’s hidden toll: Chronic disease impacts more than breathing
May 11, 2026
Roughly 7 percent of children in the United States have asthma, which makes it one of the most common chronic diseases of childhood. “That accounts for millions of children,” said Alyssa James, M.D., with Meritus Allergy & Asthma Specialists. While asthma is often thought of as a condition marked by coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath, Dr. James said its effects reach far be
Meritus earns ‘A’ Health Safety Grade for seventh time
May 6, 2026
The medical center is in the top 5% of ‘A’ grade hospitals in the nation to reach seven such awards from The Leapfrog Group. Meritus Medical was awarded an “A” Hospital Safety Grade for the seventh consecutive grading round by The Leapfrog Group, an independent national nonprofit watchdog focused on patient safety. This designates Meritus as a “Straight A” hosp
American Stroke Month: Meritus promotes BE FAST to save lives
May 4, 2026
Acting fast can save brain function, independence and even a life. In recognition of American Stroke Month this May, Meritus Medical Center is raising awareness about the warning signs of stroke and the importance of acting quickly using the BE FAST acronym, a simple tool that helps the public recognize stroke symptoms and seek emergency care without delay. Stroke is a leading cause of death
Meritus Nurse Residency Program tops in preparing nurses for careers
April 16, 2026
The program has received reaccreditation through the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Practice Transition Accreditation Program. Meritus Health announced that its Nurse Residency Program has earned reaccreditation through the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Practice Transition Accreditation Program, recognizing excellence in supporting nurses as they transition into clinic
Osteoporosis can cause more problems than just a broken bone
April 16, 2026
About 10 million people in the United States have osteoporosis. Another 44 million have low bone density, placing them at increased risk, according to the Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation. But it’s not that osteoporosis causes bones to become weak and brittle, making them easy to break from even something as simple as coughing, said Mary Romanic, M.D., with Meritus Rheumatology. &ld
Meritus welcomes gastroenterologist
April 15, 2026
Dr. Christine Lewis is now seeing patients at Meritus Digestive Health Services. Meritus Health is pleased to welcome Gastroenterologist Christine P. Lewis, M.D., to Meritus Digestive Health Services. Dr. Lewis recently joined the practice in suite 246 of the Robinwood Professional Center, 11110 Medical Campus Road in Hagerstown. She will also be seeing patients Wednesdays in Frederick at 310 W. N
New primary care opening on Professional Blvd.; Women’s Health moves
April 7, 2026
Meritus Primary Care is scheduled to open off Eastern Boulevard in mid-April. A Meritus primary care practice will be taking over the Professional Boulevard space of Meritus Women’s Health Specialists, which is moving to Robinwood Professional Center. Meritus Primary Care – Professional Boulevard will be moving into the space at 1130 Professional Blvd., Hagerstown, around April 1
Meritus neurosurgeon to be published in medical journal
March 25, 2026
Dr. Chikezie Eseonu’s paper looks at the impact of brain surgery techniques on how the brain controls the body. A Meritus physician will have a cover story about the effects of operating on brain tumors in one of the top neurosurgery journals in the world in April. Chikezie Eseonu, M.D., medical director of neurosurgery, was the senior author and principal investigator of the paper for Opera
Meritus welcomes 16 new doctors to residency programs
March 23, 2026
Physicians will join General Surgery, Family Medicine and Psychiatry residency programs. Meritus Health’s new General Surgery Residency Program has matched with its first class of three doctors, plus three transfers to the second program year of the five-year program. They’ll be joining five doctors who matched with the Meritus Family Medicine Residency program and the five who matched
Physician urges early screening as colon cancer rises in young adults
March 20, 2026
Dr. C.P. Choudari said incidence rates up for adults 20 to 49. Colorectal cancer, once considered a disease primarily affecting adults over 50, is increasingly being diagnosed in younger people, raising concern among physicians and public health experts. Incidence rates among adults ages 20 to 49 are rising by approximately 3% each year. Early-onset colorectal cancer now accounts for about 1
Lifestyle changes can impact mental health
March 9, 2026
When Dr. Chris Gauthier sits with a patient, he listens for more than symptoms — he listens for patterns. For Dr. Gauthier, psychiatry is not simply about diagnosing and prescribing. It is about restoring balance — biologically, emotionally and socially. “People generally know what they should be doing,” he said. “They know sleep matters. They know movement helps. The
Peer-reviewed case study highlights Meritus’s “Go for Bold” initiative
March 6, 2026
The work is to appear in the March edition of Population Health, Equity & Outcomes. Three Meritus Health team members recently published a peer-reviewed case study detailing the innovative communitywide “Go for Bold: Lose 1 million pounds” campaign. “Go for Bold: Improving Outcomes One Pound at a Time” is featured in the March edition of Population Health, Equity &