Sep 15, 2026
114
Health
Meet the breast surgeons
Get to know the breast surgeons who care for patients at TidalHealth.
David Sechler, MD, FACS
David Sechler, MD, FACS, works to instill trust in his patients by treating them as he would treat any of his family members. He has been practicing on Delmarva since 1997, after serving four years in the United States Navy as an active-duty lieutenant commander and general surgeon at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina.
Dr. Sechler earned his medical degree at the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond, and completed his surgical residency at the Medical Center of Delaware in Newark. He is board-certified by the American Board of Surgery in general surgery, is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and is a member of the American Society of Breast Surgeons.
Dr. Sechler served as the chief of general surgery at TidalHealth Peninsula Regional for 10 years, and he has been the medical director of the TidalHealth Breast Center for more than 10 years. He has been performing stereotactic breast biopsies for more than 20 years and is certified in the performance of both stereotactic breast biopsies and ultrasound guided breast biopsies by the American Society of Breast Surgeons.
Sharnell Smith, MD
Sharnell Smith, MD, joined TidalHealth last year, bringing 12 years of general surgery experience and a breast surgical oncology fellowship from Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio. She is board-certified by the American Board of Surgeons and is a member of the American Society of Breast Surgeons, American College of Surgeons, National Medical Association and the American Board of Quality Assurance. She is certified in Health Care Quality and Management-Physician Advisor (CHCQM-PHYADV), demonstrating her expertise in patient safety, quality of care, and emerging efforts to improve care processes and patient outcomes.
After one of her mentors passed away from breast cancer, Dr. Smith wanted to be able to help others who have been diagnosed. Smith feels longer-term relationships are more important than transactional ones. She suggests that all patients should advocate for themselves, but also “lean on their village,” reminding them that their friends and family want to be there for them.
Dr. Smith earned her medical degree from Howard University College of Medicine in Washington, D.C., and completed her general surgery residency at Howard University Hospital, where she was selected to serve as chief resident.
In her free time, Dr. Smith enjoys spending quality time with her husband and their two daughters, along with their church family. She enjoys attending soccer games and cheerleading competitions to cheer on her children.
Alae Zarif, MD
Alae Zarif, MD, performs breast surgery and general surgeries at TidalHealth Atlantic and offers patient consultations and minor procedures at TidalHealth General Surgery in Berlin. He also sees patients at TidalHealth Breast Surgery, located at the TidalHealth Gudelsky Family Pavilion in South Ocean Pines.
Dr. Zarif has been practicing since 1996, when he completed his residency at Waterbury Hospital, a Yale-affiliated surgical training program in Connecticut. He established the breast surgery program at TidalHealth Atlantic (when it was known as Atlantic General Hospital) and has been performing breast surgery throughout his career.
Dr. Zarif is certified by the American Board of Surgery, is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and holds membership in the American Society of Breast Surgeons.
He moved toward breast surgery as a specialty after a family member developed breast cancer. He will continue to focus his practice on general oncologic and breast surgeries. He also works in partnership with local plastic surgeons with patients who are candidates for breast reconstruction surgery. Dr. Zarif has a certificate in oncoplastic breast surgery, focusing on the best cosmetic results after surgery.
He has four grown children and lives with his wife and four golden retrievers in Berlin.
Nicholas Dudas, MD, FACS
Before Nicholas Dudas, MD, FACS, went to medical school, he was a music major in college, and perhaps it is this artistic background that makes him so easy to talk with. As the medical director for surgical specialties, he oversees the breast surgery program and helps to set the direction for the program’s goals. He believes that “knowledge is power” and that the patient should be the captain of the team, making informed decisions on treatment planning.
Dr. Dudas earned his medical degree from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey — Rutgers Medical School and completed his residency at the Graduate Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, receiving the Resident of the Year Award in 1991. Having been affiliated with TidalHealth for the last 35 years in various capacities, Dr. Dudas has seen an increased need for breast cancer treatment options and is proud the team at TidalHealth can provide that specialized care on the Eastern Shore.
Dr. Dudas is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a member of the American Society of Breast Surgeons. While he is planning his retirement at the end of 2027, he will remain active and busy in the Salisbury area teaching and mentoring with the Academy of Music Performance.
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