32 Ascension Saint Agnes “Top Doctors” Recognized in Baltimore magazine, Featured on Cover

Baltimore magazine’s November 2026 issue has named 32 Ascension Saint Agnes physicians as “Top Doctors,” representing 21 medical specialties and reflecting the hospital’s continued commitment to delivering exceptional, patient-centered care to the community.

Each year, Baltimore magazine invites physicians across the region to nominate peers they believe demonstrate outstanding clinical excellence. 

Front cover recognition

Ascension Saint Agnes is proud to celebrate Kristen L. Fernandez, MD, who is featured on the cover of Baltimore Magazine’s 2026 “Top Doctors” issue. 

A board-certified general surgeon and Surgical Director of the Ascension Saint Agnes Breast Center, Dr. Fernandez specializes in the treatment of breast cancer and benign breast disease. She is passionate about helping patients understand their treatment options and works closely with each patient to develop an individualized plan of care. 

A story of compassion and courage: Breast cancer care at Ascension Saint Agnes 

Baltimore magazine also features Dr. Fernandez’s care for Shelby Bennoit, who was 22 years old when she was diagnosed with Stage 2B triple-negative breast cancer. As cancer diagnoses among adults 50 and younger trend upward, Shelby’s story is a powerful reminder to listen to your body and seek medical attention when something doesn’t feel right. While preventing early on-set cancers remains the goal, recognizing warning signs and advocating for your health can be life saving. 

“Being part of a patient’s cancer journey means caring for much more than their diagnosis. It means being there in the moments of fear and uncertainty, offering hope when the road feels overwhelming, and celebrating alongside them when they get the news they’ve been praying for,” said Rohit Gulati, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Ascension Saint Agnes. “Shelby’s story is a beautiful reminder of why we do this work. We want every patient to feel they are never facing cancer alone.” 

Throughout Shelby’s journey, Dr. Fernandez and her care team at Ascension Saint Agnes provided compassionate, personalized care and guidance during an incredibly challenging time. Their commitment to supporting Shelby extended beyond treatment, culminating into the life-changing moment her team shared the news that she had beaten cancer. Now at 25 years old, Shelby is celebrating a recent engagement, embracing life, and sharing her story to give back to the cancer community. 

32 “Top Doctors” from Ascension Saint Agnes

Baltimore magazine featured the following Ascension Saint Agnes physicians in the 2026 “Top Doctors” list. Click on their names to learn more about them or to make an appointment. 

Bariatric Surgery 

• Catriona Swift, DO

Breast Surgery 

• Kristen Fernandez, MD
• Noeline Rajarajan, MD

Cardiology 

• Jesse Doran, MD 
• Hakim Uqdah, DO, PharmD

Colorectal Surgery 

• Irina Bernescu, MD

Endocrinology 

• Shadi Barakat, MD

General Surgery

• Shirali Patel, MD
• Alok Gupta, MD

Gynecologic Oncology 

• Dwight Im, MD 

Infectious Disease 

• Eyad Cheikh, MD 
• Benjamin Landrum, MD
• Prashanth Santhekadur, MD

Interventional Cardiology 

• Martin Albornoz, MD
• Raymond Plack Jr., MD

Neurology 

• Crystal Janani, MD

Obstetrics/Gynecology 

• Joyce Bonsu, MD
• Adaku Ezeike, MD

Oncology 

• Saira Ahmed, MD
• Suman Rao, MD
• Bhargavi Pulluri, MD

Orthopedic Hand Surgery 

• Ngozi Akabudike, MD

Orthopedic Surgery, Joint 

• Ke Xie, MD

Orthopedic Surgery, Sports Medicine

• Scott Adams, MD 
• M. Brian Polsky, MD
• Ralph Zade III, MD

Pathology 

• Ashley Gable, MD

Podiatry 

• Hayden Hoffler, DPM

Pulmonary

• Dafna Koldobskiy, MD

Spine Surgery

• Oren Blam, MD

Surgical Oncology 

• Humair Quadri, MD

Urology

• Andrew Harbin, MD