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Breast Center: About Our Physicians

The Hoffberger Breast Center at Mercy is unique because our physicians, nurses and staff are dedicated to diseases of the breast. They do not perform other types of surgery or practice medicine in other fields. This specialization means that our staff offers patients unparalleled knowledge and expertise in the field of breast disease.

Hoffberger Breast Center doctors collaborate closely with other physicians and staff within the hospital who provide complementary or ancillary services to patients. These include medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, pathologists, plastic surgeons, anesthesiologists, physical therapists, nurses, and many others.

The Hoffberger Breast Center Physicians and Nurses:

Breast Surgeons

Neil B. Friedman, M.D., Director
Gauri C. Bedi, M.D., Associate Director

Plastic Surgeons

Bernard W. Chang, M.D.. Assistant Director
Brendan J. Collins, M.D.

Breast Cancer Nursing Staff

Barbara W. Ashley, RN, MSN, CRNP
Jean M. Wainstock, RN, MS, CRNP, AOCN
Marsha T. Oakley, RN, BSN

Neil B. Friedman, M.D., FACS, Director, The Hoffberger Breast Center at Mercy

Neil B. Friedman, M.D., has served as the Director of The Hoffberger Breast Center at Mercy since 1996 and is a Board Certified surgeon with a passion for providing patients clinical expertise and individualized care.

Dr. Friedman is dedicated to the search for a cure for cancer, as evidenced by his work for the American Cancer Society. He has been the Chairman of the Society’s Research Administrative Committee, a member of its Executive and Professional Education Committees, and served on its Board of Directors. Dr. Friedman is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and has also been involved with the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

Dr. Friedman was recognized by Baltimore Magazine as a "Top Doc" in the breast surgery category. His research on cancer has been published in such well-respected journals as the American Journal of Public Health and the Journal of Immunotherapy. He has also spoken about the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer at a number of conferences and continuing education forums.

Dr. Friedman completed his undergraduate work with honors at the University of Maryland, College Park and received his M.D. from the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Dr. Friedman completed his residency in the Department of Surgery of the New York Hospital – Cornell Medical Center, eventually becoming Chief Resident at both New York Hospital and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

Gauri Bedi, M.D., FACS, Associate Director, The Hoffberger Breast Center at Mercy

Gauri Bedi, M.D., Associate Director of The Hoffberger Breast Center, is a Board Certified general surgeon, specializing in Breast Surgery.

Previously, Dr. Bedi was Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgery at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and on the faculty of the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. She has a diverse background in the field of surgical oncology, earning numerous awards for her research in surgical sciences.

Dr. Bedi did her residency in General Surgery, as well as an Advanced Specialty Training Program in Surgical Oncology at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. She also completed a postdoctoral fellowship in the Molecular Genetics of Cancer at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Bernard W. Chang, M.D., Assistant Director, The Hoffberger Breast Center at Mercy

Bernard W. Chang, M.D., is Director of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery at Mercy, as well as Assistant Director of The Hoffberger Breast Center. He works closely with the breast surgeons of The Hoffberger Breast Center, offering women breast reconstruction options they may not find elsewhere.

Dr. Chang was recognized in Baltimore Magazine and in Good Housekeeping Magazine as one of Maryland’s “Top Plastic Surgeons.” Click here to learn more.

Brendan J. Collins, M.D., Plastic Surgeon, The Hoffberger Breast Center at Mercy

Brendan J. Collins, M.D., is Board Certified in both General Surgery and Plastic Surgery. He joined Mercy after completing a combined Johns Hopkins-University of Maryland fellowship in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. He specializes in reconstructive breast surgery and teams with the breast surgeons of The Hoffberger Breast Center to offer patients leading-edge choices in breast reconstruction after cancer surgery. He has expertise in perforator flap microsurgery. Click here to learn more.

Barbara W. Ashley, RN, MSN, CRNP, Adult Nurse Practitioner, The Hoffberger Breast Center at Mercy

Barbara Ashley, RN, MSN, CRNP, is an Adult Nurse Practitioner with more than 20 years experience in the field of breast cancer, breast screening, and oncology nursing.

A graduate of Syracuse University with a bachelor's degree in nursing, Ms. Ashley earned her Master of Science degree in nursing from The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC.  She received her nurse practitioner training at The Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing. She came to Mercy from The Johns Hopkins Breast Center and the Breast Oncology Group. 

Ms. Ashley assesses, evaluates, and provides follow-up for women with benign breast problems and breast cancer at The Hoffberger Breast Center.

She has presented on numerous topics, ranging from chemotherapy to ambulatory oncology care and oncology emergencies.  She has authored articles on related topics in such publications as Oncology Nursing Forum, Cancer, Current Issues in Cancer Nursing Practice, and Outpatient Chemotherapy.

Jean M. Wainstock, RN, MS, CRNP, AOCN, Family Nurse Practitioner, The Hoffberger Breast Center at Mercy

Women experiencing a breast concern seek out the clinical expertise of Jean Wainstock, CRNP, at The Hoffberger Breast Center at Mercy.  Jean openly and honestly discusses the many treatment options available, evaluating and managing the individualized care of each woman she treats.

Jean offers her patients 20 years of advanced practice nursing experience in surgical oncology with particular expertise in managing benign and malignant breast disease. She believes superior clinical treatment combined with hope, compassion and patient empowerment is essential in any woman’s path to recovery.

Jean is a graduate of The University of Missouri, Columbia with a bachelor’s degree in nursing, earning her Master’s of Science in Oncology Nursing at Rush University in Chicago.  She received her post-master’s nurse practitioner’s training at The University of Missouri, Columbia. Jean is a member of the American Nurses Association, the Oncology Nursing Society, and Sigma Theta Tau. She has presented locally and nationally on numerous cancer-related topics and has been an investigator in a variety of published clinical studies. Jean has authored a number of professional journal articles in such publications as Oncology Nursing Forum, Cancer Nursing, ONS News, and Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Working closely with The Breast Center physicians and staff, Jean is available to offer women unparalleled care with an optimistic approach to healing. She is an advocate and spokesperson for women facing a breast cancer diagnosis, offering hope and strength for the course that lies ahead.

Marsha T. Oakley, RN, BSN, Nursing Coordinator, The Hoffberger Breast Center at Mercy

Marsha Oakley, RN, BSN, received her Bachelor of Science in nursing at Indiana University—Bloomington and has since dedicated her career to women’s health. As the Nursing Coordinator at The Hoffberger Breast Center at Mercy, Marsha provides counseling, support and advice to patients going through breast cancer treatment. She is responsible for patient education prior to surgery, and following surgery, helping to guide patients to a healthy recovery. Marsha also coordinates the Sentinel Node Clinical trial within The Hoffberger Breast Center.

A breast cancer survivor herself, Marsha co-founded Arm-in-Arm, a breast cancer support group that is available to patients at Mercy. She was appointed to the F.D.A. National Mammography Quality Assurance Advisory Committee in 1994. As a member of the Maryland chapter of the American Cancer Society’s Breast Health Committee, Marsha helped organize “Portraits in Hope,” an exhibit of breast cancer survivors.

For her efforts to promote the early detection and treatment of breast cancer, the Baltimore Regional Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners selected Marsha as a “Woman of Excellence.” She received the Distinguished Service Award from her alma mater, Indiana University. In 1995, she received the Ellen Barnett Memorial Award from the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation for her dedicated role in the battle against breast cancer. For her work with Reach-to-Recovery, Marsha was given the Terese Lasser Award by the American Cancer Society, Mid-Atlantic division in 2000. In 2005, Marsha was selected as “Outstanding Honoree” in the nursing category for The Daily Record’s Health Care Heroes award.

Now Accepting New Patients.
Most Insurances Accepted.

Please call for an appointment.
Phone: 410-332-9330
Tollfree: 1-800-MD-Mercy (1-800-636-3729)