Learning Specialist - Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine

The Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine.  Educating the next generation of physicians. 

The mission of Meritus Health, Inc. is to improve the health of our community. With the establishment of the Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine (MSOM), we are proud to take a significant step forward in achieving this goal by educating the next generation of physicians who are professionally accomplished, socially responsible, and community oriented.

MSOM will be the first new medical school in Maryland in over a century.

Located on the campus of Meritus Health in Hagerstown, Maryland, MSOM will be part of Western Maryland’s largest healthcare provider, which serves over 200,000 residents across the tri-state area. This strategic location will provide students with direct access to a robust healthcare environment for both education and clinical training.

The inaugural class, the Class of 2029, will begin in July 2025, marking the start of an exciting new chapter in medical education in Maryland. The first cohort will consist of 90 medical students, with future classes expected to grow to 180 students. MSOM’s state-of-the-art facility, the D.M. Bowman Academic Hall, is a 200,000-square-foot, five-story building designed to foster a dynamic learning environment. The building will feature cutting-edge simulation centers, labs, classrooms, and a conference center with the capacity to host up to 1,000 people.

Adjacent to the academic building, Meritus Commons will provide on-campus housing with 340 one- and two-bedroom apartments. The complex will include amenities such as a clubhouse, communal areas, and a dog park. The first 90 units will be ready in time for the arrival of the first class in 2025.

This initiative is not only a response to the growing national shortage of healthcare professionals, but it is also expected to have a significant economic impact. Between 2025 and 2030, the Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine is projected to generate over $750 million in economic activity by 2030. 

Through MSOM, Meritus Health is proud to play a leading role in shaping the future of healthcare and medical education, fostering a new generation of physicians who will serve the evolving needs of our community and beyond.

The Learning Specialist role:

• Position that assists students in maximizing educational outcomes.

Job Duties:

• Expertise in relevant learning strategies and theories;
• Working with students one on one, workshops and programs;
• Working with teaching assistants and faculty for tutoring and mentorship;
• Serves on the students at risk committee (STARc) committee;
• Serves on the Performance and progress committee;
• Develops programs that support all students’ academic needs;
• Individual assessment and counseling to identify individual learning patterns with emphasis on test taking skills, time management anxiety, organizational skills, learning styles, clinical reasoning and preparation for licensure examinations and Board certification; oversees student tutors and peer facilitated trainings.
• Works with admissions to test students for learning styles;
• Works with student affairs, mentors and medical education teaching in a collaborative effort to improve student experience; and
• May require hours that are not 8-5 for student success.

Qualified applicants should have:

Education: PhD or similar degree in Education, higher Education, or Special Education

Experience Required:

• 3 or more years in an academic medical school
• 3-5 years’ experience with outcomes for student advancement
• Experience working with tutoring and /or peer assisted learning
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including oral and written communication skills
• Demonstrated conceptual, analytical and organization skills
• Innovative and solution-orientated approach to sensitive and complex problems including flexibility to meeting the various needs of students
• Ability to maintain a collaborative productive relationship with students, faculty and staff and
• Ability to develop and maintain collaborative and productive relationships with various constituency group

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in academic support/learning theory for Medical or post bac students.
• Minimum 3 years’ related experience in academic setting providing intervention strategies to diverse learners.
• Experience in medical education with demonstrated success in implementing academic