A Message from the Program Director

I believe that Family Medicine is the heart of the American health care system. Patients long to find a physician who will SEE them and compassionately direct their care. The Meritus Family Medicine Residency Program is committed to training the next generation of Family Physicians who will see patients as souls to be loved and not as problems to be fixed. We believe that learning happens best when residents embrace their core values and then live out those values as they serve their communities. It is our deepest desire to help our residents embrace their community, grow in compassion for self and others, and acquire an approach to evidence based medicine that will generate a yearning for excellence in patient care.

After 25 years in clinical practice, I came home to Hagerstown, Maryland to help build the residency program. It has been exciting to watch this program take flight! Meritus offers residents an incredible opportunity to experience a vibrant community hospital with access to a full range of specialty physicians. Support from the administration, medical staff, and hospital personnel has been astounding and that is not something many programs can boast. All of this happens in scenic Western Maryland just miles from the Appalachian Mountains and seventy miles from Washington DC and Baltimore.

Our residents are introduced to multidisciplinary teams in the office and inpatient setting with the expectation that they will assume a role of progressive leadership. Our residents are challenged to connect with a need in the Hagerstown community that energizes their passion for service. This energy and service is united in the residents need for scholarly work. Residents who choose to train in the state of Maryland have the unique opportunity to participate in the “Total Cost of Care” Model, which is an experiment for the nation being conducted by the Federal Government. This forward thinking strategy of health care spending could revolutionize the way care is delivered.

Meritus has recently completed construction of our 17,000 square foot state-of-the-art Family Medicine Practice Center. Residents focus on developing their practice skills with our “Clinic First” curriculum. We have Thursday academic half days in our conference center with opportunity for residents and guest speakers to participate in didactics. We utilize the evidence-based curriculum from the “Residency Curriculum Resource” and our residents are regularly challenged with questions from Rosh Review. This valuable resource has been incorporated into our curriculum for topical review on rotations and board preparation.

Residents are given a competitive salary including the same insurance plan offered to Meritus Hospital employees, a monthly food stipend, and a sign on bonus, which can be helpful for relocating expenses. We also understand the need for times of connection so healthy meals are served for the residents and faculty on our academic half days. As a new program, we offer residents the opportunity to help build our program and be influential in shaping our future.

I am particularly excited about the team of people who share this journey with me. Our faculty bring decades of practical clinical experience to the resident. They have a genuine desire to build the next generation of physicians. We invite you to take the next step and see if Meritus is the place for you.

- Paul Quesenberry, M.D., FAAFP