Faculty & Staff

At the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, our oncology and hematology medical and support staff are committed to your well being. On your first visit, you will receive an individualized treatment plan. During each visit, your care will be managed by the same physician and a skilled, compassionate group of caregivers. We emphasize a personal approach in every aspect of your care and encourage you to voice your concerns, opinions and questions to help us best meet your needs. Patients undergoing treatment have access to oncology physicians 24 hours a day.

Our nursing staff focuses on education, helping patients understand their illness and fostering coping skills. Patients can also research and find information in the community health library, conveniently located on campus. Additionally, the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center offers support groups for patients, their families and friends.
 

Administrative Staff

Phillip A. Dennis, M.D., Ph.D.
Director, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins Bayview
Chair, Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center

Phillip A. Dennis, M.D., Ph.D., is the director of the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins Bayview and the Department Chair of Oncology at Johns Hopkins Bayview. He leads all lung cancer program activities within the Center's Upper Aerodigestive Cancer Program, including the creation of a Center of Excellence in Thoracic Oncology at Johns Hopkins Bayview that includes clinical care, translation/clinical research and teaching.

Kanika Khanna, MBBS, MBA
Administrator, Medical Oncology
Administrative Director, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins Bayview

Kathleen Patten
Senior Administrative Coordinator
 

Medical Staff

Medical Oncology

Michael J. Purtell, M.D., Ph.D.
Medical Oncology

Michael Purtell, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of medicine, earned an undergraduate degree from Harvard University, and doctoral degrees from Case Western Reserve University. He completed a residency at Baltimore City Hospitals, and served as a clinical associate with the National Cancer Institute and a senior investigator with the Baltimore Cancer Research Center.

A member of the Department of Oncology at Johns Hopkins Bayview since 1982, Dr. Purtell is is board-certified in internal medicine and medical oncology. His interests cover all areas of oncology with a focus in lung cancers.

Ilene S. Browner, M.D.
Geriatric and Medical Oncology

Ilene S. Browner, M.D., graduated from the University of Cincinnati School of Medicine and completed a residency in general internal medicine at the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. She also completed clinical fellowships in medical oncology, and in geriatric medicine and gerontology at Johns Hopkins.

Dr. Browner is board-certified in oncology, geriatric medicine and internal medicine.

Madelaine L. Binner, DNP
Nurse Practitioner, Oncology

Madelaine L. Binner, DNP, holds a doctorate in nursing practice from The Robert Morris University and is board-certified as a family nurse practitioner by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). She earned a bachelor's in nursing from the University of Hartford and a master's in nursing from Gannon University, as well as a master's in business administration from Niagara University.

Hematology

Satish P. Shanbhag, M.D., MPH
Clinical Director, Hematology

Satish Shanbhag, M.D., MPH, assistant professor of medicine and oncology, and clinical director of hematology at Johns Hopkins Bayview, earned a medical degree from Bangalore Medical College in Bangalore, India. He completed a residency in internal medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where he also earned a master's of public health in health care organization and policy. He completed a fellowship in hematology and oncology at Temple University and Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia.

Dr. Shanbhag specializes in treating adult patients with benign blood disorders and hematologic malignancies. He sees patients at both Johns Hopkins Bayview and The Johns Hopkins Hospital. His clinical research interests include mantle cell lymphoma and low grade lymphomas. He is board-certified in internal medicine and oncology.

Akil Merchant, M.D.
Hematology

Akil Merchant, M.D., an instructor of medicine, earned an undergraduate degree from Rice University and a medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine. He completed a residency in internal medicine (ABIM Research Pathway) at Baylor College of Medicine Affiliated Hospitals and a fellowship in medical oncology and hematology at The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins.

Board-certified in internal medicine and oncology, Dr. Merchant specializes in blood disorders, including bone marrow failure, myelodysplastic syndrome, multiple myeloma and lymphoma. He also conducts research at The Johns Hopkins Hospital.

Daniyela Jelovac, M.D.
Hematology

Candis Morrison, Ph.D., CRNP
Nurse Practitioner, Hematology

Candis Morrison, Ph.D., CRNP, earned a bachelor's degree in nursing and a certification as an adult nurse practitioner by the University of Maryland School of Nursing. She earned a master's in psychiatric nursing and administration of nursing services from the University of Maryland School of Nursing. She also received a post-master's certification in nurse-midwifery from the Nurse Practitioner Faculty Training Program at the University of Pennsylvania. She holds a doctorate in health psychology and health education from the University of Maryland Department of Health Education.

Radiation Oncology

Russell Hales, M.D.
Radiation Oncology

Russell Hales, M.D., an instructor of radiation oncology and molecular radiation sciences, earned a medical degree from The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and completed a residency at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. Dr. Hales works with patients regarding radiation therapy, which is performed at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Johns Hopkins at Green Spring Station or Central Maryland Radiation in Columbia. Radiation therapy will be available at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center in the near future.

Peggy Lang, CRNP
Nurse Practitioner, Radiation Oncology

Surgical Oncology

Mark Duncan, M.D.
Surgical Oncology
Chair, Surgical Oncology
Vice Chair, Department of Surgery

Mark Duncan, M.D., specializes in gastrointestinal surgery and surgical oncology, including surgery of the esophagus, stomach, intestine, colon and rectum, gallbladder and pancreas, adrenal and retroperitoneal sarcoma. He also works in conjunction with urologic and gynecologic surgical specialists, performing major resections of complex pelvic cancers. He chairs the Cancer Committee and directs the Tumor Board at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. Before joining Johns Hopkins, Dr. Duncan served on the surgical faculty at Georgetown University Medical Center and the Washington, D.C. Veteran's Administration Hospital.

Mehran Habibi, M.D.
Surgical Oncology

Mehran Habibi, M.D., assistant professor of surgery and oncology at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, earned a medical degree at Azad University in Iran and completed a fellowship in surgical oncology at Virginia Commonwealth University Hospitals.

Habibi's work has been published in several medical journals, including American Journal of Oncology Review and The American Surgeon. 

Nursing and Patient Care Staff

Judy Bekowitz, RN, MSN, OCN
Clinic Manager

Judy Bekowitz, RN, MSN, OCN, oversees the operations of the clinic and its staff and is responsible for the safety and welfare of our patients. If you have any concerns about your treatment, please ask to see the manager.

Peggy Lang, NP
Coordinator for Thoracic Multidisciplinary Program, Lung Cancer Screening Clinic and Pulmonary Nodule Clinic

Peggy Lang, NP, earned a master's degree at The Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing. She has care for lung and esophageal patients at Johns Hopkins for more than 20 years.

Bryna Delman Ewachiw, Pharm.D., BCOP
Oncology Pharmacy Coordinator

Bryna Delman Ewachiw, Pharm.D., earned a bachelor's degree and a doctorate of pharmacy at Temple University School of Pharmacy in Philadelphia, PA. Dr. Ewachiw has been a clincal oncology specialist for over 10 years in the Baltimore area and is an adjunctive faculty member at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy and College of Notre Dame School of Pharmacy.

Dr. Ewachiw is a member of the Cancer Committee at Johns Hopkins Bayview. She also actively participates in cancer education initiatives for both patients and health care professionals within the Medical Center. Her clinical interests include supportive care, improving medication safety and maintaining high standards in accordance with cancer chemotherapy best practices.
 

Patient Care Technicians

Our patient care technicians are responsible for a variety of pre-appointment procedures including taking vital signs and drawing blood for testing.
 

Support Staff

Registrars

Our registrars will register you for your appointment when you arrive and assist in arranging appointments for testing and other services recommended by your provider.
 

Medical Office Coordinators

Our medical office coordinators arrange your appointments with our providers and assist in procuring the medical records needed for your initial appointment. They also assist with insurance verifications and manage communications between you and your provider.