Rita Abujaber is a certified registered nurse practitioner at the Johns Hopkins Brady Urological Institute and sees patients at the Johns Hopkins Health Care & Surgery Center — Green Spring Station. She cares for all urologic conditions with particular specialization in active surveillance for prostate cancer, prostate cancer screening, and male LUTS (lower urinary tract symptoms). She co-director of the Prostate Cancer Active Surveillance Program.

Rita obtained her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Bethlehem University and her Master of Science in Nursing at the Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She continued specializing through a post-Masters in Nurse Practitioner in Critical Care at the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing.

Tracie Cometa is a nurse practitioner who cares for patients with all urological conditions. She received a bachelor's degree from Towson University in nursing. After 10 years working as an operating room nurse, she decided to follow her dream to help take care of patients. She enrolled and completed her nurse practitioner training at Walden University. She was inspired to help urologic patients after her caring for urologic patients in the OR. She has more than three years of professional experience. She is an active member of the American Nurse Practitioner Association. She is a mother of four kids and spends much of her free time cheering her kids on at their various sports events.  

Kristen Farling joined the Brady Urological Institute in 2002 and is a Certified Urologic Nurse Practitioner and Assistant in Urology at Johns Hopkins Hospital. She obtained her BSN, MSN and DNP degrees from the University of Maryland, Baltimore with a focus on the survivorship needs of prostate and bladder cancer patients (sexual recovery, intimacy, and urinary continence). Dr. Farling is an active member of the Society of Urological Nurses’ and Associates (SUNA), Nurse Practitioner Association of Maryland (NPAM), American Urological Association (AUA) and Sexual Medicine Society of North America (SMSNA). She hosts monthly Pre Surgical Zoom Webinars for upcoming prostatectomy patients and often a guest speaker at local prostate cancer support groups and national urology conferences. Dr. Farling's a prior nursing professor at both the Johns Hopkins University’s School of Nursing and the University of Southern California. Dr. Farling's the author of peer reviewed journal articles and contributed chapters to Lippincott Manual of Nursing among others. In her spare time she enjoys reading, hiking, pilates, Peloton and spending time with her husband and friends.

Greg Howard is a Baltimore-native Nurse Practitioner at the Brady Urological Institute since 2020 and sees patients at both Johns Hopkins Hospital and Green Spring Station - Urology Outpatient Centers.  He collaborates with both Max Kates, MD, and Nirmish Singla, MD, caring for patients of urologic cancers to include bladder, kidney, testicular, and prostate in the outpatient setting.  Greg Howard completed his Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences at UMBC, Associate Degree in Nursing at CCBC, and Master of Nursing at Walden University. He is nationally board-certified as an Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner by the American Nurses Credentialling Center and credentialled as Certified Perioperative Nurse (CNOR). He started his medical career in 2010 within the Johns Hopkins Burn Center focusing on burn and wound care before transitioning into the operating room specializing in robotic, urologic/genitourinary, gynecologic, and plastic surgery. Greg brings his genitourinary experience in cystoscopy, robotic, and endoscopic procedures to help patients understand their condition, treatments, recovery, and ongoing care.  

Ms. Ivey-Bloom is Nurse Practitioner at The James Buchanan Brady Urological Institute at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. She was inducted into the Sigma Theta Tau International honor society for academic excellence. She is a passionate member of the legislative and political action committees for the Nurse Practitioner Association of Maryland. She deployed with the 48th Combat Support Hospital in the United States Army Reserves during Operation Enduring Freedom and with the Urban Augmentation Medical Task Force in support of the Federal Emergency Management Agency response to COVID-19. She served as Commander of the 336^th Medical Detachment and serves currently as the 348^th Field Hospital Executive Officer in Fort Meade, Maryland. Ms. Ivey-Bloom has earned several distinguished medals during both deployments for which she is proud. She co-authored a review for Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to Increase Adherence to Penile Injection Therapy–Based Rehabilitation After Radical Prostatectomy and enjoys reading in her free time.

Rebecca McDonald is a Nurse Practitioner who has worked at the James Buchanan Brady Urological Institute since 2011.  She practices at the Johns Hopkins Outpatient Center as well as the Greenspring Station. She works collaboratively with all of our urologists and specializes in general urological care. Rebecca began her career as an LPN in 1983, and eventually earned her Master’s Degree at the University of Maryland in 2001. She is Certified Adult Nurse Practitioner. 

Michal Secker FNP-C is a Nurse Practitioner at the James Buchanan Brady Urological Institute and works at the Johns Hopkins Hospital as well as the Greenspring Outpatient Center.  She works collaboratively with Dr. Amin S. Herati, MD, the Director of Men's Health and Director of Male Infertility.

Michal Secker FNP-C completed her Bachelors in Nursing at Drexel University and her Master's in Nursing at George Mason University. She is certified by the AANP as a Family Nurse Practitioner and has a nursing certificate in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility from ASRM. She began her nursing career in the PICU and Labor and Delivery, however has spent the majority of her career working in reproductive and sexual medicine at the Muasher Center for Fertility, The Genetics and IVF Institute as well as The Fairfax EggBank. She joined the Brady Urological Institute in 2018 and works in concert with Dr. Herati treating patients for infertility, sexual dysfunction, men's health/hypogonadism, benign prostate hypertrophy (BPH) and pelvic/scrotal pain. Prior to her nursing career, Michal Secker also completed a Bachelors of Art in music at the University of Delaware.

Riane Thrasher is a Nurse Practitioner at the Brady Urological Institute and works at the Johns Hopkins Hospital as well as the Greenspring Outpatient Center. She works collaboratively with Dr. Mohamad Allaf, MD, the Director of Urology, Minimally Invasive, and Robotic Surgery, as well as Dr. Brian Matlaga, MD, the Director of Stone Disease. Riane obtained both her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, and her Master of Science in Nursing degree at The University of Akron in Akron, Ohio. She holds a national certification with the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners as an Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner. She began her nursing career at Akron General Medical Center in the area of Orthopedic Perioperative Care and General Medicine, however has spent the majority of her career working in the Medical/Surgical Intensive Care unit. Her passion for nursing and the drive to continue her education led her to pursue her lifelong goal of becoming a nurse practitioner. Riane joined the Brady Urological Institute in 2021, and works in collaboration with Dr. Allaf, treating patients for both prostate cancer and kidney cancer. She also works alongside Dr. Matlaga, managing and treating patients with kidney stones.