Meritus surgeons bring skill, experience, care to the job

Surgery is a cornerstone of care at Meritus Medical Center. In fact, the hospital ranks second in Maryland for the quality of surgical care according to Healthgrades, the top site Americans use when searching for a doctor or hospital. According to data from Healthgrades, the Meritus surgical program also surpasses all hospitals in the bordering states of Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

That might be because Meritus Health has added several top-ranked surgeons over the past few years. The goal has been to bring advanced procedures and minimally invasive techniques to patients without requiring trips to Baltimore or Washington, D.C.

Brian Cantor, M.D., a general and bariatric surgeon with Meritus Surgical Specialists, joined the practice in 2023. With more than 20 years of medical experience, he treats patients with hernias, gallbladder conditions, colorectal and endocrine disorders, and bariatric needs using minimally invasive and robotic-assisted techniques.

Dr. Cantor earned his medical degree from University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore and completed his residency at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, N.J. He completed a fellowship in minimally invasive and bariatric surgery at Saint Peters University Hospital in New Brunswick, N.J.

“I believe in empowering patients to participate in the development of their treatment plan through shared decision-making,” Dr. Cantor said. “In the process of caring for a patient, we focus on their goals and what matters most to them as we create an individualized plan of care. I treat my patients in a timely manner and strive to deliver patient-centered, advanced, quality care with empathy.”

Mohammad Jafferji, M.D., is a thoracic surgeon who performs procedures of the chest. Jafferj joined Meritus Surgical Specialists in 2024. His interests include treating patients with diseases such as lung or esophageal cancer, and he specializes in minimally invasive surgery.

Dr. Jafferji earned his medical degree from the University of Vermont College of Medicine in Burlington, Vt., and completed his residency at Dartmoth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H. Additionally, he completed a thoracic surgery fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine/Texas Heart Institute in Houston, Texas.

"I have always loved being able to have a meaningful and positive impact on people's lives,” Dr. Jafferji said. “Being a physician and surgeon affords the incredible opportunity to not only find solutions for ailments but allows me to meet and hear the stories that shape different people's lives. Being a doctor provides a unique experience where art, science, technology and the human touch interplay around the human experience.”

Nasir Bhatti, M.D., joined the health system earlier this year as medical director of the new Meritus Advanced ENT. He comes to Meritus after 23 years on faculty with the Johns Hopkins Head and Neck Surgery program. He completed his ENT residency at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.

“We have the training and many years of experience at top institutions that will allow us to provide world-class care to patients,” Dr. Bhatti said of the ENT practice. “We know how to work hand-in-hand with emergency medicine, pulmonary critical care, allergy and immunology and neurosurgery disciplines. We want to have very easy access for our patients, bringing expert care close to home.”

To learn more about Meritus’ general surgery program, visit www.meritushealth.com/SurgicalCare. To learn more about Meritus Advanced ENT, visit www.meritushealth.com/ENT.