Comings & Goings: Meritus medical school gets big boost from Bowman foundation

Meritus medical school gets $6 million from foundation; academic building to bear Bowman name

As Meritus Health makes progress on its proposed school of osteopathic medicine, it recently received a big gift to help cover the cost of construction.

The Jone L. Bowman Family Foundation has committed $6 million toward the capital costs of the proposed Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine now being built on the hospital's Robinwood campus, according to a news release from Meritus.

Meritus President and CEO Dr. Malik Joshi said the gift would be recognized on the building itself.

"We are so proud to share that our flagship academic building will be named the D.M. Bowman Academic Hall in honor of this tremendous support, a location that is so much more than a building,” Joshi said in the news release, "it will inspire and educate future generations of socially responsible physicians."

The purpose of the school, Joshi said, is to help fill the gap in physicians being experienced locally and nationwide.

Dave Lehr, Meritus Health chief strategy officer and chief operating officer of the medical school, said in a separate news release that the school has met all licensure and accreditation milestones so far, including passing stage one of the Maryland Higher Education Council licensure process.

Construction on the 200,000-square-foot academic building started in the winter and is on track to be completed in late 2024, Lehr said in the release.

In preparation, the inaugural dean, Dr. Paula Gregory, has been working with three associate deans to develop the school's needed preceptor partnerships and curriculum. The plan is to have the four-year medical school accepting students who would begin their medical education in August 2025, Lehr said.

Joshi said that as of July, the community has pledged more than $11 million toward the school. The Meritus Healthcare Foundation is promoting a capital campaign, and community members interested in supporting the school can learn more at MSOM.org.

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Meritus Health hires surgeon as new chief surgical officer

Meritus Health recently announced in a news release that Dr. Adrian Park, a world-renowned surgeon, will join the organization as the chief surgical officer. Additionally, he will serve the proposed Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine as an associate dean of research and innovation.

Park has made major advancements in the improvement of laparoscopic techniques and technology, complex hernia repair, foregut and spleen surgery, according to the release. He holds more than 20 patents and has been instrumental in the development and application of new technologies in endoscopic surgery.

Park joins Meritus from Luminis Health, where he served as the James and Sylvia Earl chair of surgery and surgeon in chief, and professor of surgery at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

In addition to serving as a senior leader, Park will care for patients and perform advanced, minimally-invasive surgeries at Meritus Medical Center, according to the release. He will see patients in Hagerstown and in Frederick, where Meritus is establishing a new clinic.

Global Data Consultants promotes two

Global Data Consultants LLC, a managed IT solutions and staffing technology provider headquartered in Chambersburg, Pa., recently announced two promotions.

Dan Logan to CEO and Mike Coons was named chief financial officer and executive vice president of mergers and acquisitions, according to news releases from the company.

Logan will have oversight of the sales and service delivery leadership reporting. He is tasked with guiding GDC’s efforts to promote and deliver product and service, in addition to expanding the customer base, according to the release. He has worked at GDC for nearly 20 years, beginning in application services. He most recently was chief information officer.

Coons will have oversight of shared services and infrastructure leadership reporting. He will take the lead of selecting and assessing companies that best fit within the GDC services model with all the resources necessary to incorporate them into our organization, according to the release. During his 15 years at GDC, he has helped in GDC’s sales organization, increasing market share, and expanding GDC’s corporate footprint.

SEK promotes two in Chambersburg, one in Hagerstown

SEK CPAs & Advisors, a regional accounting and consulting firm with offices in Maryland and Pennsylvania, recently announced the following manager and senior staff promotions effective July 1.

Kristin Delauter was promoted to manager. With eight years of experience, Delauter specializes in audit services to municipalities, school districts, and other governmental entities, as well as financial institutions and nonprofit organizations. She joined SEK in 2015 and is based in the firm’s Chambersburg office.

Morgan Landman was promoted to senior associate. Landman provides tax services to closely-held businesses, specifically partnerships and s-corporations. She specializes in the preparation of business tax returns and collaborating on projects related to the Employee Retention Credit. Based in the Chambersburg office, she joined SEK full-time in 2022 after three tax-season internships with the firm.

Sarah Shank was promoted to senior associate. She provides tax and accounting services to individuals, private foundations, trusts and estates. She joined SEK in 2021 and is based in the firm’s Hagerstown office.

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This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Jone L. Bowman Foundation donates $6 million to medical school