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Lend me your ear: Hearing-loss impact on mental health
February 9, 2026
When asked about the impact of hearing loss on mental health and well-being, Brian McKinnon, M.D., quotes Hellen Keller, who was deaf and blind. “She once said, ‘Blindness separates people from things; deafness separates people from people,’” said Dr. McKinnon, a physician at Meritus Advanced Ear, Nose, and Throat and chair of the surgical department at Meritus Health. He l
Meritus Neurosurgery adds physician
February 9, 2026
Neurosurgeon Dr. X. Sean Xin has joined the practice in the Robinwood Professional Center. Meritus Health is pleased to welcome a new neurosurgeon to Meritus Neurosurgery. X. Sean Xin, D.O., recently started at the practice in Suite 147 of the Robinwood Professional Center on the Meritus campus. He will join Chikezie Eseonu, M.D., Alina Huneke, CRNP, and Kirti Venkatesh, PA-C, at the practic
Family Medicine Residency Program director named to national board
February 3, 2026
Dr. Stacy Ross to serve on the Board of Directors of the Association of Family Medicine Residency Directors. Stacy Ross, M.D., director of the Meritus Family Medicine Residency Program, was recently named to the board of the Association of Family Medicine Residency Directors (AFMRD). Dr. Ross is one of five physicians elected to the board and one of two member-at-large directors for the more than
Meritus Fast Lane Care gets you treated quickly
February 3, 2026
New after-hours practice now open in Robinwood Professional Center. Meritus has a new option for when you need to visit a healthcare professional in the evening, but don’t necessarily need the Emergency Department. Meritus Fast Lane Care is open from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. in Suite 147 of the Robinwood Professional Center. Staffed by physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants,
New hearing specialist joins Meritus Advanced ENT
January 30, 2026
Kristin Jones, AuD, has started at the Robinwood office. Meritus Health is pleased to welcome Kristin Jones, AuD, to Meritus Advanced Ear, Nose, and Throat. Jones, an audiologist, is a doctor who helps people with hearing and balance problems. She focuses on testing patients’ hearing to find the best treatments, such as hearing aids. She joins Nasir Bhatti, MD, and Brian McKinnon, MD, at the
Go For Bold: Health, Community and the Power of Small Steps
January 26, 2026
If you’ve resolved to live healthier in the new year, Washington County’s Go For Bold initiative gives you more than a goal. It gives you a friendly community walking right beside you. Launched in 2020 through a collaboration between Meritus Health and Healthy Washington County, Go For Bold is a decade-long, county-wide movement aimed at strengthening public health and wellness with an
New year, new you? Meritus physician offers advice for healthy 2026
January 12, 2026
It’s a new year, and you might be thinking of ways to improve your health in 2026. Andrew Ditto, M.D., is offering some advice for folks looking to make a change. Dr. Ditto, who recently moved from Meritus Family Medicine in the Robinwood Professional Center to the newly opened Meritus Primary Care at the Valley Mall, said it’s the sort of things he’d tell his patients at their y
Meritus doctor named Physician of the Year by MD association
January 12, 2026
Dr. Catherine Feaga practices at Meritus Family Medicine in Robinwood. Meritus Health is proud to announce that Catherine Feaga, D.O., was named the Maryland Association of Osteopathic Physicians’ 2025 Physician of the Year. She was recently recognized by the MAOP for “exemplary professional achievement, dedication to the osteopathic profession, and distinguished service to the c
You have the flu. When is it time to see a doctor?
January 6, 2026
Meritus chief medical officer highlights symptoms, treatments, importance of taking care during viral illness season. As the community continues to struggle with a spike in cases of influenza, RSV and other viral illnesses, Meritus Health is offering more information about what you can do to start feeling better. Why it’s important to stay home when possible Rest is one of the best way
Meritus welcomes first baby of 2026!
January 2, 2026
The first baby born in 2026 in Washington County arrived in the morning of New Year’s Day. Nylah Grace Hamby, a girl, was born at 1:43 a.m. to Cheyanne Davis and Tyshaun Hamby of Hagerstown, MD. Nylah weighed in at 7 pounds, 11 ounces and was 20.75 inches long. Meritus Medical Center’s Family Birthing Services provides expert medical care, compassionate nursing, and a family-centered e
Public Health Advisory: Meritus Health Urges All Visitors to Mask Up
January 2, 2026
Meritus Health is urging community members to take proactive steps to protect themselves and others as influenza, RSV and other viral illnesses continue to circulate at elevated levels across the region. Healthcare teams throughout Meritus facilities are seeing increased cases of flu and RSV, particularly among young children, older adults and those with underlying health conditions. To help slow
Self-acceptance a key to dealing with holiday stress
December 22, 2025
The holiday season can be tough. “Christmas and New Year’s are wrapped around a lot of heightened emotion,” said Jaquita Marshall, LCPC, NCC, a counselor with Meritus Mental Health Urgent Care. “There are a lot of stereotypes associated with the holidays that end up causing more stress because they don’t fit with your life.” Marshall said there are ways to deal