Andrea Chao Bafford, MD
Colon and Rectal Surgical Oncology
Colon and Rectal Surgery
- Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Faculty
About Andrea Chao Bafford
Primary Academic Title
Associate Professor of Clinical Surgery
Background
A colorectal surgeon, Dr. Bafford specializes in the treatment of colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, and benign diseases of the colon, rectum and anus.
"These diseases are very treatable. The surgeries I perform are effective at curing cancer or treating colitis, which allows my patients back to the quality of life they want to have. It's very rewarding to see that type of recovery with so many of my patients," she says.
Dr. Bafford's special interests include laparoscopic and robotic minimally invasive surgery, approaches that are associated with less pain and a faster recovery. Treatments she offers include surgical treatment of inflammatory bowel disease, sphincter-sparing surgery and organ preservation for rectal cancer, surgery for anorectal disorders, minimally invasive surgery for diverticulitis, treatment of rectal prolapse, and screening and therapeutic colonoscopy.
Dr. Bafford has authored or co-authored numerous publications in leading peer-reviewed scientific journals and textbooks. Her research interests are in the pathophysiology of colorectal cancer, disparities in colorectal surgery and the surgical management of inflammatory bowel disease. Her passion and dedication have earned her a consistent spot on Baltimore magazine's "Top Doctor" lists for colon and rectal surgery.
Research Summary
Dr. Bafford's research has largely focused on IBD. Utilizing institutional databases and the NSQIP IBD, she has investigated perioperative outcomes in IBD patients as they relate to sex, immunosuppressive medical therapy, trauma, preoperative drainage of abscesses, and fecal diversion. She has also published on the microbiota of perianal Crohn’s disease with the help of an intramural grant. In addition, through interdepartmental collaboration, Dr. Bafford has contributed towards intestinal organoid preparation and 3D colon cancer organoid development used to study immune responses to intestinal infections, intestinal immunity, and colon cancer pathogenesis.
Honors
- Baltimore Top Doctors, Colon and Rectal Surgery (2012, 2014, 2016-22), Baltimore Magazine
- Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society, 1/1/23
- Senior Resident Teaching Award, General Surgery Residency, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 1/1/18
- Super Doctors, Washington, DC-Baltimore-Northern Virginia Rising Stars, Super Doctors, 1/1/13
Memberships
- Member, Maryland Consortium for Anal Cancer Screening
- Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America’s Maryland and Southern Delaware Mission Committee
- American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons Inflammatory Bowel Disease Committee
- Member, Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract
- American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons Clinical Practice Guidelines Committee
- Fellow, American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons
- Fellow, American College of Surgeons
Locations
- Medical Arts Building - Columbia
- 11085 Little Patuxent Parkway, Suite 103, Columbia, MD 21044
- phone: 410-730-1988
- fax: 410-367-2249
- Johns Hopkins Outpatient Center
- 601 North Caroline Street, Floor 8, Baltimore, MD 21287
- phone: 443-997-1508
- fax: 443-769-1242
Expertise
Education
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Fellowship, Colorectal Surgery, 2010Brigham and Women's Hospital
Residency, General Surgery, 2009Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine
Medical Education, MD, 2003Board Certifications
Colon and Rectal Surgery
American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery, 2011Surgery
American Board of Surgery, 2010Insurance
- Aetna
- CareFirst
- Cigna
- First Health
- Geisinger Health Plan
- HealthSmart/Accel
- Humana
- Johns Hopkins Health Plans
- MultiPlan
- Pennsylvania's Preferred Health Networks (PPHN)
- Point Comfort Underwriters
- Private Healthcare Systems (PHCS)
- UnitedHealthcare
- Veteran Affairs Community Care Network (Optum-VACCN)
Ratings & Reviews
4.8 out of 5
108 ratings, 48 reviewsThe Patient Rating score is an average of all responses to physician related questions on the national CG-CAHPS Medical Practice patient experience survey through Press Ganey. Responses are measured on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the best score. Comments are also gathered from our CG-CAHPS Medical Practice Survey through Press Ganey and displayed in their entirety. Patients are de-identified for confidentiality and patient privacy.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 3/3/2025
Excellent
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 1/14/2025
She reviewed my clinical information and discussed options and recommendations moving forward
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 1/14/2025
The provider's calm and reassuring manner put me at ease, making it easier to discuss the diagnosis. They thoroughly explained my options, detailing the different types of surgeries available, which helped me feel informed and more confident about the next steps.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 1/14/2025
Questions answered and didn't feel rushed
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 1/13/2025
Satisfied with the experience.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 12/30/2024
Very professional and knowledgeable
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 12/17/2024
Good and caring.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 12/10/2024
My provider did an excellent job of executing my health needs.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 12/10/2024
Attentive and helpful
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 12/2/2024
She is the person who my whole family relies on. She operated on my wife, and thanks to her, mywife is cancer-free 6 years after diagnosis
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 11/26/2024
Very helpful, gave very detailed answers to my questions.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 11/19/2024
Absolutely the best! Dr. Bafford was professional and personable.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 11/12/2024
Very professional, kind, knowledgeable. Definitely did an excellent job.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 11/12/2024
She was straight forward about the possible surgery and explained how it would affect my health and the fact that it would be a complicated surgery. I appreciate her being straight forward with me.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 11/12/2024
I liked Dr.Bafford very much. She is very professional and thorough.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 10/29/2024
Dr. Bafford is an amazingly empathetic and knowledgeable physician. She made me very comfortable and explained things precisely and thoroughly.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 10/22/2024
I feel lucky to have had the positive health care experience that I had and to have Dr. Bafford as my doctor for my necsessary surgery and follow-up.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 10/7/2024
Very Professional
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 9/24/2024
I just met her, liked her. She came highly recommended by my siste
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 9/24/2024
Dr Bafford is an excellent surgeon and a very caring person. She is easy to talk to and very compassionate.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 9/24/2024
I was extremely pleased with Dr. Bafford's care, and will be highly recommending her in the future to others.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 9/17/2024
She explained the 2 different procedures she could do & how they would be done
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 9/3/2024
Very good surgery and follow up
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 9/3/2024
Thorough, clear, respectful, knowledgeable, concerned and Informative
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 9/3/2024
I was very pleased with the provider and she answered all of my questions and explained a possible procedure very well.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 8/30/2024
She was very detailed when she answered my questions. I appreciated her opinion of my situation.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 8/23/2024
Dr Bafford was kind, patient, and friendly and knowledgeable! She took time with me and answered my questions and concerns! I trust her with my surgery and feel like I have a lot of faith in her. I'm sure she'll do an excellent job as she has great credentials! I really liked her personality!
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 8/20/2024
Friendly, easy to talk to and understand everything about upcoming surgery
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 8/13/2024
Happy with doctor and her nurse
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 8/9/2024
Provider was so professional and really knowledgable. After seeing three specialists, she was by far the best, most informed, most proactive, wonderful all around.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 7/26/2024
I'm well impressed. She was respectful, gentle and knowledgeable.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 7/23/2024
From the looks of it, he is a good doctor
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 7/23/2024
Best surgeon
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 7/16/2024
Dr. Bafford was very apologetic for her tardiness and provided me with the information I was needing so I appreciate her for that.
- 2 out of 5 starsReviewed on 7/9/2024
The doctor has no bedside manners
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 7/9/2024
Great provider who was attentive and gave me a second chance at life
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 6/11/2024
Dr Bafford was great and explained the surgery process throughly.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 5/28/2024
Dr Bafford had extraordinary ability. She is also friendly and explains things clearly. She is amazingly young - when did she learn all that ?
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 5/21/2024
All goof
- 3 out of 5 starsReviewed on 5/7/2024
They did not follow thru on their end with setting up my colonoscopy. Said they would do that within 2 days
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 4/26/2024
Dr.Bafford is excellent in explaining procedures and she's excellent in listening to your concerns!She is not dismissive and she gives me a sense of ease!
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 4/23/2024
Great
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 4/23/2024
Confident, assured and forthright. Listened and make conclusion.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 4/16/2024
I felt that she was extremely helpful and spent a lot of time with me discussing the possibilities of my pain. She also spent a lot of time explaining why she felt certain procedures were not the best option at this time. I really really felt like she cared about my well being
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 4/16/2024
Excellent
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 4/12/2024
I am very happy to be with Dr. Bafford during this medical issue in my life.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 4/9/2024
Dr. Baffert was wonderful.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 3/19/2024
Knowledgeable, respectful, caring