Meritus Health recently named new leadership at Meritus Medical Center and its first associate dean for the proposed Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine.
Dr. Anand Budi has been promoted to chief medical officer, according to a news release from Meritus. Dr. Aaron George, who had been the chief medical officer, was the first associate dean of clinical education, community development for the proposed medical school.
“We are so grateful for Dr. George’s tremendous leadership,” Maulik Joshi, Meritus president and CEO, said in the release. “He’s been a committed and dedicated leader through the COVID pandemic and has led very successful initiatives to enhance patient safety and quality, and to reduce unnecessary testing and lab work at the hospital. I’m thrilled to see his passion and talent applied in this new role where he will help mold the future physicians of our region.”
Joshi said the accreditation process for the medical school is progressing under the leadership of the school’s dean, Dr. Paula Gregory.
Gregory and George will work together to hire additional faculty members in 2023, according to the release.
Construction on the 200,000-square-foot academic building will begin this winter. Partnerships with local colleges and other health systems are being developed. Ground was broken for the project in October with help from Gov. Larry Hogan.
Related:Meritus holds groundbreaking ceremony for new medical school in Hagerstown area
Budi, who has been serving Meritus Medical Center as associate chief medical officer, is familiar to the community, having practiced as a pediatrician in Hagerstown since 1998, according to the release.
“I am thrilled to welcome Dr. Budi to the senior leadership team and look forward to his work in quality, safety, and our leading talented provider teams at the hospital,” Joshi said in the release. “He has served our community in a tremendous capacity for decades, and we are honored that he has been chosen to share his talents and experience at Meritus.”
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Budi new Meritus medical chief, George associate dean at Meritus