Providers and Staff
Dr. Gary Haakenson
Dr. Haakenson has been practicing obstetrics and gynecology in Raleigh since 1978. A native of North Dakota, he graduated from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, in 1972. He completed his Ob-Gyn residency at Baylor in 1976. After two years in the U. S. Air Force he moved to Raleigh to enter private practice in obstetrics and gynecology.
In the fall of 2005, he began practicing gynecology only. "I have had the unbelievable privilege of being involved in the most intimate time in a family's life. I will miss all the exciting and fun-and not always so fun- times I have had with our pregnant patients; however, I will have much more availability to see patients for their gynecological needs. I intend to continue working full-time as your gynecologist for many more years with my fabulous partners at Atrium Ob-Gyn."
He and his wife, Jill, have three children -- Marc, Eric and Kristin -- and seven grandchildren.
"I hope you enjoy our practice as much as we do! We will strive to meet your healthcare needs by treating you the way we would like to be treated."
Dr. Haakenson is a member of the American College of Obstetrics & Gynecology, North Carolina and Wake County Medical Societies, and the North Carolina ObGyn Society. He is also past ObGyn department chairman at Rex Hospital.
Dr. Mark Zimmerman
Mark Zimmerman, M.D., grew up in Cary, NC (yes, really). After graduating from Cary High School in the Class of 1982, he attended the University of North Carolina where he earned an honors degree in Chemistry and Biology. He liked Chapel Hill so much he stayed for Medical School and, in 1990, moved on to the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, Texas, for his Ob/Gyn residency. When his wife told him he couldn’t take a year off and hike the Appalachian Trail, they moved back to North Carolina, where he joined Drs. Haakenson and Henderson in 1994.
"I tell people all the time how lucky I am to have found the greatest job on the planet," Dr. Z says. "To be able to connect with families and provide care for patients is a rare privilege and immense pleasure but can be a major challenge since patients need help most when times are rough.
"I was fortunate to have had very good teachers and mentors who believed the doctor-patient relationship was the essence of great medicine. Next, I found the smartest woman and best doctor I have ever known to be my wife. She supports our family, takes care of us and makes it possible for us to care for others, too. Ultimately, I found the most honorable partners and a dedicated staff that treat their patients like family. See what I mean?"
Mark and Sherri have two sons, Matthew and Parker, and a daughter, Maggie. Sherri is a physician at Cary Pediatric Center. Dr. Z loves to travel and is an avid hiker/ backpacker.
Dr. Matthew Alvarez
Dr. Alvarez grew up in central Ohio where he earned two degrees from The Ohio State University. He earned his bachelors degree, graduating with honors in 1993. He completed medical school at OSU in 1998.
He then moved to North Carolina where he completed his Ob/Gyn residency at Duke University Medical Center. He recently completed a further year of training as a specialist registrar at Queen Mary's University Hospital in London, England.
Dr. Alvarez lives in Raleigh with his wife, Eleanor, and their four daughters. Eleanor is an Ob/Gyn physician at Duke University.
"North Carolina has been a wonderful state as it has provided me not only excellent training at Duke but also the most wonderful person in the world-my wife."
In his spare time, Dr. Alvarez enjoys golfing, running, watching OSU sports and traveling.
Dr. Alvarez is a member of American College of Obstetrics & Gynecology and North Carolina and Wake County Medical Societies. He currently serves on the Rex Hospital Credentialing Committee.
Dr. Zoe Beatty
Dr. Beatty is a native of Chicago, Illinois, and grew up in the Raleigh area, graduating from Enloe High School. She earned her medical degree from UNC Chapel Hill in 1997 and completed her Ob-Gyn residency at Pennsylvania State University in 2005. Dr. Beatty joined Atrium ObGyn in September 2005. She is a member of the American College of Obstetrics & Gynecology and the American Medical Association.
She and her husband, Andy, have four children: Matthias, Marcel, Sofia and Theo. Andy is a member of the teaching staff at Our Lady of Lourdes School.
"We are very excited to be returning to the Raleigh area to work and raise our children. Being a parent has increased my understanding of not only the challenges of pregnancy but the limitless joys of parenthood. I look forward to helping other women and their partners achieve and carry a healthy pregnancy and help build a happy family.
"What I love most about this specialty is that it allows me to help women at all stages in their lives, encompassing both pediatric and adolescent gynecology as well as the unique challenges of the postmenopausal woman. Atrium ObGyn is exactly the kind of practice I hoped to join, one with a commitment to providing the highest quality care in a friendly and caring environment."
In her spare time you can find her chasing her kids around a local playground.
Dr. L. Carter Gray
L. Carter Gray, M.D., was born in Winston-Salem, NC, and earned her medical degree from Wake Forest School of Medicine in 1999. She completed her Ob-Gyn residency at Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington, D. C. in 2003 and has been employed with Duke Women's Health Associates since that time.
"I love being an obstetrician and gynecologist. Being able to take care of women through the years and build relationships with them and their family is very fun and exciting for me. I really look forward to this new change in my life and being part of such an amazing team"
She and her husband, Jim, live in Durham and have two sons, Walter and Henry.
Dr. Daniel R. Breazeale
Daniel Breazeale, M.D., has recently relocated from private practice in Maryland to the Raleigh area. Prior to this, he had a 15-year medical career in the U.S. Navy, including service in Guantanamo Bay, Afghanistan, and Jacksonville, Florida.
He received his medical degree in 1999 from the Uniformed Services University in Bethesda, Maryland. Residency training in Obstetrics & Gynecology was completed in 2003, at the Navy's busiest facility, Naval Medical Center Portsmouth Virginia. He is also a graduate of Indiana University and the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health.
Dr. Breazeale is Board Certified, and a Fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
He provides all dimensions of obstetric and gynecologic care. He has special interests helping women in the areas of recurrent miscarriage, uterine fibroids, and abnormal Pap tests. He also brings considerable experience with the newest contraceptive technologies, and minimally invasive gynecologic surgery.
"I enjoy solving problems, and finding medical and surgical solutions so that women can quickly return to their careers, motherhood, life's activities and interests as soon as possible. And, of course, I love delivering babies!"
He and his wife, Sarah, live in north Raleigh with their three sons and a brittany puppy.
Jill Barbour, W.H.N.P.
Jill Barbour is a certified women's health nurse practitioner. She graduated magna cum laude from East Carolina University as a registered nurse in 1982. She subsequently practiced nursing and was a childbirth educator at Rex Family Birth Center for 10 years. In 1997, she graduated from UNC at Chapel Hill with a master's degree in nursing and worked for Rex Ob/Gyn before joining Atrium Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Jill and her husband, Rusty, have three children- Wes, Luke and Emme. They currently reside in Clayton where they are members of Baptist Center Church. Jill is a children's Sunday School teacher and a member of the choir.
In the summertime (or about anytime), the whole family can often be found on a baseball field or the basketball court. "I became a nurse practitioner in women's health because I enjoy caring for women of all ages," Jill says. "I love working with the adolescent who is undergoing so many new and unfamiliar changes, the pregnant woman who is experiencing the most awesome and yet uncertain time of her life, and the older woman who is entering into a future full of new opportunities and possibilities. The opportunity to educate and empower women about their ever-changing bodies and to be able to follow them through the many phases of their lives is truly a blessing."
Amy Gilbert, F.N.P.
Amy Gilbert is a board certified Family Nurse Practitioner. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing with honors from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill and received her Master of Science in Nursing with honors from Duke University. She is a member of the American Academy of Family Nurse Practitioners.
During her graduate studies, and for two years prior to entry to graduate school, Amy worked at the University of North Carolina's Women's Hospital as a Labor and Delivery nurse. After earning her master's degree, and prior to joining Atrium Obstetrics and Gynecology, Amy worked as a Nurse Practitioner for a local family practice, with much of her focus on women's health.
Amy and her husband and two children, Ella and Noah, live locally and enjoy travel, cooking and time together with friends and family.
"Atrium Obstetrics and Gynecology is the type of practice I have always wanted to be a part of, where values for patient-centered care are given a priority," says Amy. "As a family nurse practitioner, I provide both personal and comprehensive healthcare.
"What I love most about my specialization in Obstetrics and Gynecology is the ability to care for women throughout their remarkable and ever changing journey from adolescence, early adulthood, preconception through pregnancy, and life changes beyond. It is a privilege to help patients optimize their well-being so they may live healthy lives for themselves and their families."
We take pride in our patient-driven team of employees. Our team of providers and staff are dedicated to the principle of serving our patients' needs by offering excellent and personalized care. We trust you'll find our office to be friendly and helpful. We like what we do and hope that we can be of good service to you!
Atrium ObGyn Administrative Staff
Our administrative staff is here to serve you and answer your questions about appointments, forms or finance, and will treat your concerns with courtesy and professionalism.
Atrium ObGyn Clinical Staff
Our clinical staff assists the providers during exams as well as answers your phone calls and questions. We are confident that our staff treats patients with gentleness, dignity and respect.
Rex Phlebotomy
Atrium ObGyn offers in-office phlebotomy for the convenience of our patients. These Rex employees are fully trained and certified to draw your blood and put you at ease during your blood draw in our office.
Ultrasonography Staff
Atrium ObGyn offers in-office ultrasonography for your convenience. Our ultrasound staff performs GYN ultrasounds, OB screening, nuchal translucency and 3D ultrasounds.
Nutrition Counselor
We offer nutrition counseling in our office by a registered dietician and certified diabetes educator.
Photos of providers and staff by Burnie Batchelor Studio.