Office Closing - January 1st, 2024

Breast Care by Design.

“The wide difference in types of benign and malignant conditions of the breast are such that we believe each woman deserves a comprehensive and unique plan of evaluation and treatment as special as she is – hence Breast Care by Design.”

– Dr. Robert A. Gardner

Dr. Robert A. Gardner

Dr. Robert A. Gardner
Dr. Gardner's Journey

While a third-year medical student, Robert Gardner, MD, FACS was presented with a case would ultimately direct his career path. “It was a 32-year-old woman with three kids and metastatic breast cancer,” Dr. Gardner remembers. “It had obliterated her pituitary gland and she was only given six months to live.”

“Over 42,000 woman per year die from the disease in the United States,” he continues. “It became a consummate passion of mine to improve early diagnosis and the prevention of breast cancer.”

The first member of his family to go into medicine, Dr. Gardner was born and raised in New London, Conn. He earned his undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of Rochester and medical degree from State University of New York’s Upstate Medical Center. Dr. Gardner completed post-education with internship and residency at Columbia University’s Presbyterian Hospital in the city of New York.

In 1973, Dr. Gardner relocated to Palm Beach County to join Palm Beach Medical Group (joining the medical society in 1974) where he practiced general and vascular surgery until 1991. In 1991, he “came home to my one true love, which is breast issues” and founded his private practice, Palm Beach Breast Institute in West Palm Beach.

“The breast specialty has changed dramatically,” Dr. Gardner says. “It started out with surgeons doing radical mastectomy. Now we do partial – removing the tumor – and using radiation on the part of the breast which now can be given in the operating room with electrons.”

Over the years, Dr. Gardner has helped establish many of the area hospital’s breast centers. From 1992 to 1995, he founded and was director of the Center for Breast Health at St. Mary’s Hospital and from 1996 to 2010 served as director at Center for Breast Care at West Palm Hospital. Dr. Gardner is currently affiliated with those two hospitals as well as Good Samaritan, Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center.

At Palm Beach Breast Institute, Dr. Gardner and his staff offer comprehensive care for women with concerns about breast disease. This includes prevention, education, early detection and proper diagnosis, outreach programs, treatment options, and support groups. Dr. Gardner is the only physician in Palm Beach County Certified in Breast Ultrasound by the American Society of Breast Surgeons.

“The culture surrounding breast cancer has changed leaps and bounds,” Dr. Gardner says. “25 years ago, it was shameful and woman would try and hide it. Now, through better imaging detection and diagnosis, the mortality rate of Stage 0 is only 2 percent.”

Always one to stay ahead of the pack, Dr. Gardner is continuously involved in clinical studies and has had his research work published in various medical journals. He’s the father of five – Heather, Andrew, Mark, Erik, and Shana – and the founder of The Robert A. Gardner, MD Foundation, Inc., a not-for-profit that funds breast cancer public awareness campaigns and research.

“I feel that it is an honor to take care of women,” Dr. Gardner says. “I would do it all over again in a heart beat. Every day is a privilege.”

Awards

1. U.S. Patent and Trademark Office “Breast Cancer Treatment in a Day” 04/2015
2. Outstanding Achievement in Medical Research Award – 04/2015
3. Outstanding Accomplishments in Medial Research for American-Italian Association of Educators 2015
4. Certification in Breast Ultrasound by American Society of Breast Surgeons 2013, re-certified in 2015
5. Outstanding Physician Award Columbia Hospital in West Palm Beach 2011
6. Phi Beta Kappa University of Rochester 1962

Accomplishments

1. 2014 Pioneering in performing few of the fist cases of IOERT at JKF Medical Center, Palm Beach County
2. 2012 Introduce IOERT (Intra-operative Electron Radiation Therapy) for breast cancer treatment to south Florida
3. Introduce Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy for breast cancer treatment to Northern Palm Beach County
4. 2009-2012 Surgical studies and participation in procedures in Milan, Italy and Salzburg, Austria
5. 1995-2010 Medical Director for Breast Care Center at Columbia Hospital WPB
6. 1992 Founder of Breast Cancer Multidisciplinary Conference at JFK Medical Center North Campus formerly known as Columbia Hospital
7. 1991 founder and Medical Director of The Palm Beach Breast Institute “Breast Care by Design”
8. 1991 introduce stereotactic breast biopsy to Palm Beach County
9. 1988 Established The Robert A. Gardner, M.D., Foundation, Inc. formerly known as The Breast Center of the Palm Beaches, Inc. non-for- profit corporation that works to raise funds for education and research.
10. 1972-1973 Chief Resident & Vascular Surgical Resident at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center City of New York

Curriculum Vitae

Education

High School Ithaca, New York June 1958
College University of Rochester, Rochester, New York
Phi Beta Kappa, B.A. Psychology
1958-1962
Medical School Presbyterian Hospital in New York City 1962-1966
Internship University of Rochester, Rochester, New York
Phi Beta Kappa, B.A. Psychology
1966-1967
Residency Presbyterian Hospital; General/Vascular Surgery
College of Physician & Surgeons
Columbia University in New York City
1967-1972
Chief Resident & Vascular Surgery Resident General & Vascular Surgery
Presbyterian Hospital, City of New York
Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center
College of Physicians & Surgeons
1972-1973
Practice History Palm Beach Medical Group
Private Practice
1991-Present

Hospital Appointment & Associations

Director Center for Breast Care
West Palm Hospital, West Palm Beach
1996-2010
Founder and Director Center For Breast Health
St. Mary’s Hospital, West Palm Beach
1992-1995
Hospitals St. Mary’s Hospital
Good Samaritan Hospital
1973-Present
JFK Medical Center North Campus (formerly known as West Palm Hospital) 1989-Present
Palm Beach Gardens 1990-Present
JFK Medical Center 2014-Present
Jupiter Medical Center 2015-Present

Personal

Status Divorced
Children Heather (step-daughter)
Andrew, Mark, Erik – sons
Shana – daughter

Certifications

Certified in Breast Ultrasound by the American
Society of Breast Surgeons 2011
RE-certified 2016

Research & Publications

American Breast Laser Ablation Therapy Evaluation (ABLATE): Monitoring the long term safety and efficacy of Novilase breast interstitial laser therapy in real world application; WIRB Protocol #20081989 NO: BR-001 October 2009-to Present
Percutaneous Excision Trial (I-PET): A Multi-Center Clinical Study of the Intact Breast Lesion Excision System (BLES0 to Demonstrate that a Definitive Diagnosis can be Made from the Tissue Sample Collected with the Intact BLES; WIRB Protocol #20061553 NO: INTACT06-06 December 2007-December 2009
Focused Microwave Phased Array Thermotherapy for Ablation of Early-Stage Breast Cancer: Results of Thermal Dose Escalation, Vargas HI, Dooley WC, Gardner RA et. Al; Annals of Surgical Oncology, 11(2):139-146 DOI: 10.1245/ASO.2004.03.059 March 2004
Focused Microwave Phased Array Thermotherapy for Primary Breast Cancer, Gardner RA, Vargas HI, Block JB et al (Columbia Hosp, West Palm Beach, Fla; Harbor-Univ of California, Torrance; Massachusetts Inst of Technology, Lexington; Breast Diseases: A Year Book Quarterly, Vol 14 No 1 2003 April-June 2003
The Principal investigator at Columbia Hospital for a FDA approved research to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the SenoRx Lesion Localization Device 2001-Present
R.A. Gardner, H.I. Vargas, J. Block, C.L. Vogel, A.J. Fenn, G. Kuehl, M. Doval; Columbia Hospital, West Palm Beach, Florida; Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, California; Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Lexington: “Focused Microwave Phased Array (FMPA) Thermotherapy for Primary Breast Cancer”. The abstract presented at The Society of Surgical Oncology, Inc. 54th Annual Cancer Symposium, March 15-18, 2001 in Washington DC. March 2001
One of four investigators in the United States and Europe leading a FDA approved 2nd phase research to treat breast cancer with heat (hyperthermia) 2001-Present
Director – Breast Cancer Prevention Program of Florida 2000-Present
The Investigator for Fine Needle Aspiration Program 2000-Present
One of two investigators in the United States leading a FDA approved research to treat breast cancer with heat (hyperthermia) 1999-Present
Investigator for FDA and NSABP Star Trial Study of Tamoxifen vs. Raloxifene 1999-Present
Director of Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy, research protocol – Columbia Hospital 1996-Present
Site investigator – Study Breast Cutaneous Temperature and Tumor Relationship, screening protocol 1996-1997
Investigator FDA Trial Breast Skin Temperature as a Function of Underlying Benign and Malignant Tumors of Breast 1983-1985
Study of Pancreatic Surgical Procedures in patients with pain of chronic, relapsing pancreatitis. Gardner, R., Porter, M. – New York Surgical, April 1973 1970-1973
American Cancer Society Grant
Study of Regional Lymph Node Anti Tumor Anti Body Production
1966-1992
The Role of Regional Lymph Nodes in Anti Tumor Anti Body Production-Gardner, R., Decosse, J. – Syracuse Medical Journal 1966
Advanced Training
Robert A Gardner MD - Advanced Training

17th Annual Meeting for The American Society of Breast Surgeons
Dallas, TX, 20.25 Credit Hrs., Cat. 1
April 14-17, 2016
16th Annual Meeting for The American Society of Breast Surgeons
Orlando, FL, 21.25 Credit Hrs., Cat. 1
April 29-May 3, 2015
IOE Education – European Institute of Oncology
Case Observation with Theory Session on Intraoperative Radiotherapy with Electrons (ELIOT)
Milan, Italy
April 8-9, 2014
15th Milan Breast Cancer Conference
Milan, Italy
June 20-21, 2013
14TH Annual Meeting for The American Society of Breast Surgeons
Chicago, IL , 21.75 Credit Hrs., cat. 1
May 2-5, 2013
30th Annual Miami Breast Conference
Miami, FL, 16.5 Credit Hrs., cat. 1
March 7-10, 2013
ESP Inc., Ultrasound Registry Review-Physics & Specialty Penn State College of Medicine
Las Vegas, NV, 24 Credit Hrs., cat. 1
August 10-12, 2012
13th Annual Meeting for the American Society of Breast Surgeons
Phoenix, AZ, 21.75 Credit Hrs., cat. 1
May 2-6, 2012
12th Annual Meeting for the American Society of Breast Surgeons
Washington, DC, 22.75 Credit Hrs., cat. 1
April 27-May 1, 2011
28th Annual Miami Breast Cancer Conference
Miami, FL, 16.5 Credit Hrs., cat. 1
March 9-12, 2011
6th International Conference of the International Society of Intraoperative Radiation Therapy ISIORT
Scottsdale, AZ, 13.75 Credit Hrs., cat. 1
October 14-16, 2010
Radioactive Seed Localization Breast Surgery Workshop Mayo Clinic
Rochester, MI, 4 Credit Hrs., cat. 1
July 23, 2010
American Brachytherapy Society 2010 Annual Meeting
Atlanta, GA, 18 Credit Hrs., cat. 1
April 29-May 1, 2010
27th Annual Miami Breast Cancer Conference
Miami, FL , 15 Credit Hrs. cat. 1
March 3-6, 2010
11th Milan Breast Cancer Conference
IEO European Institute of Oncology
Milan, Italy
June 17-19, 2009
Course in Senology and Oncology
Professor Umberto Veronesi
Milan, Italy
June 17, 2009
European Institute of Oncology
Assisting Dott. Paolo Veronesi for InatraOperative Radiation cases
Operating Room, Milan, Italy
June 17, 2009
St. Johanns-Spital, Priv.-Doz. Dr. Roland Reitsamer
Assting in Surgical Cases for InstraOperative Radiation Therapy
Salzburg, Austria
June 15-16, 2009
10th Annual Meeting
The American Society of Breast Surgeons
San Diego, CA, 26 Credit Hrs. cat. 1
April 22-26, 2009
American College of Surgeons
Oncoplastic Surgery: Breast Conservation and Strategies for Mastectomy
San Diego, CA, 7.25 Credit Hrs. cat.1
April 23, 2009
Breast Tumor Conference
The JFK Medical Center and Columbia Hospital
17 Hrs. CME cat. 1
Year 2008
10th Milan Breast Cancer Conference
European Institute of Oncology
Milan, Italy, 12 Credit Hrs., cat. 1
June 18-20, 2008
25th Annual Miami Breast Conference
Orlando, FL, 17 Credit Hrs., cat. 1
February 20-23, 2008
8th Annual Meeting for the American Society of Breast Surgeons
Phoenix, AZ, 36.75 Credit Hrs, cat. 1
May 2-6, 2007
Introduction to Image-Guided Whole Body Robotic Radiosurgery
West Palm Beach, FL
September 30, 2006
Finding Breast Cancer in Early Stages
Teaching Course in Mammography
Brussels, Belgium, 16 Credit Hrs, cat. 1
September 8-10, 2006
Cyberknife, PDC Meeting
Denver, CO, 6.5 Credit Hrs, cat. 1
July 9, 2006
7th Annual Meeting
The American Society of Breast Surgeons
Baltimore, MD, 27.5 Credit Hrs, cat. 1
April 5-9, 2006
16th Annual National Interdisciplinary Breast Conference
National Consortium of Breast Centers
Las Vegas, NV, 21 Credit Hrs, cat. 1
March 12-15, 2006
Breast MRI Interpretation, Correlation and Interventions
Stanford Radiology
Las Vegas, NV, 17.5 Credit Hrs., cat. 1
October 26-29, 2005
MammoSite Clinical Training Program
MammoSite Radiation Treatments
Atlanta, GA, 9 Credit Hrs., cat. 1
July 9, 2005
GE MRI Master Series
Breast MRI Imaging to Interpretation
Oradell, NJ, 9 Credit Hrs, cat. 1
June 4-5, 2005
29th Annual Symposium for American Society of Breast Surgeons
Practical Issues in Multidisciplinary Management of Breast Disease
Las Vegas, NV, 15.5 Credit Hrs., cat. 1
April 14-16, 2005
21st Annual Miami Breast Cancer Conference
Miami Beach, FL
February 25-28, 2004
20th Annual Miami Breast Cancer Conference
Miami Beach, FL, 28.75 Credit Hrs., cat. 1
February 26-March 1, 2003
20th Annual Miami Breast Cancer Conference
Miami Beach, FL, 28.75 Credit Hrs., cat. 1
February 26-March 1, 2003
The American Society of Breast Surgeons
Third Annual Scientific Meeting
Boston, MA
April 24-28, 2002
19th Annual Miami Breast Cancer Conference
Miami Beach, FL, 21.75 Credit Hrs., cat. 1
February 27-March 2, 2002
12th Annual National Interdisciplinary Breast Cancer Conference
Las Vegas, Nevada
February 25-27, 2002
54th Annual Cancer Symposium, The Society of Surgical Oncology
Washington DC
March 16-17, 2002
6th Annual Multidisciplinary Symposium on Breast Disease
Amelia Island, FL, 18 Credit Hrs., cat. 1
February 15-18, 2001
Second Annual Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Symposium
The Annual Meeting of the American Society of Breast Disease
Chicago, IL, 17 Credit Hrs., cat. 1
September 15-17, 2000
Site Visit / Dr. Copans
Massachusetts General Hospital / Radiology Department
Boston, MA
September 6, 2000
Site Visit / Research for Aurora MRI machine
Faulkner-Sagoff Center for Breast Health Care
Norman L. Sadowsky, M.D. – Medical Director
Boston, MA
July 20-21, 2000
2000 Breast Seminar Series, Laszlo Tabar, M.D.
Advanced Diagnostic Course with Screening
Palm Beach, FL, 26 Credit Hrs, cat. 1
May 24-27, 2000
The American Society of Breast Surgeons Annual Meeting
Charleston, SC, 14 Credit Hrs., cat. 1
April 13-16, 2000
17th Annual Miami Breast Cancer Conference
Miami Beach, FL, 17 Credit Hrs., cat. 1
March 2-4, 2000
XXII International Clinical Hyperthermia Society Conference
Los Angles, CA
September 23-24, 1999
1st Milan Breast Cancer Conference
European School of Oncology
Milan, Italy
June 17-19, 1999
American Society of Breast Disease
Breast Cancer: Misinformation, Future Direction, Customized Care
Joint Sponsors Ochsner Alton Medical Foundation, 10 Credit Hrs., cat. 1
April 30-May 2, 1999
1999 International Cancer Conference
Held by Aventura Hospital, FL, 8 Credit Hrs., cat. 1
April 22, 1999
16th Annual Miami Breast Cancer Conference
Miami Beach, FL, 18 Credit Hrs., cat. 1
February 25-27, 1999
Sentinel Node Biopsy Mini Symposium
Miami Beach, FL, 3.5 Credit Hrs., cat. 1
February 24, 1999
22nd Annual Gold Coast Conference-Breast Cancer
The Breakers, Palm Beach, FL, 15 Credit Hrs., cat. 1
February 21-23, 1999
Surviving Breast Cancer-The International Cancer Alliance
West Palm Beach, FL
January 23, 1999
84th Annual Clinical Congress-The American College of Surgeons
“Breast Disease”
Orlando, FL
October 25-28, 1998
Breast Cancer 1998: New Data for Surgeons
Orlando, FL
October 24, 1998
Breast Center Development Conference
The National Consortium of Breast Centers Atlanta, GA
April 3-4, 1998
5th Annual Cancer Conference
“Current Clinical Management Issues of Women’s Cancers”
The Breakers, Palm Beach, FL, 11 Credit Hrs., cat. 1
March 2-4, 1998
15th Annual International Breast Cancer Conference
Orlando, FL, 17 Credit Hrs., cat. 1
February 26-28, 1998
Radiology Seminar for Breast Surgeons: Dr. Laszlo Tabar
Chicago, IL
October 13, 1997
American College of Surgeons
83rd Annual Clinical Congress, Breast Diseases Course
Chicago, IL
October 12-14, 1997
American College of Surgeons
83rd Annual Clinical Congress, Breast Diseases Course
Chicago, IL
October 12-14, 1997
Breast Cancer/ESO
New York, NY, 11 Credit Hrs., cat. 1
June 5-6, 1997
Mammography Education, INC by Dr. Laszlo Tabar
Diagnosis and In-Depth Differential Diagnosis
The Breakers Hotel, Palm Beach, FL, 23 Credit Hrs., cat. 1
May 14-17, 1997
The National Consortium of Breast Centers, Inc.
Orlando, FL
April 4-6, 1997
14th Annual International Breast Cancer Conference
Miami, FL, 16 Credit Hrs., cat. 1
March 6-8, 1997
Early Breast Cancer: The State of the Art Team Approach
Phoenix, AZ, 20 Credit Hrs., cat. 1
October 9-12, 1996
13th Annual International Breast Cancer Conference
Sheraton Harbor, Miami Beach, FL, 18 Credit Hrs., cat. 1
March 1-3, 1996
The Detection and Treatment of Neoplastic Diseases of the Breast
JFK Medical Center, West Palm Beach, FL, 6 Credit Hrs., cat. 1
February 6, 1996
Breast Cancer: 1995 Clinical and Basic Science Advances in Diagnosis and Treatment
The Ritz Carlton Laguna Niquel, Dana Point, CA
September 21-24, 1995
Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment in the New Health Care Era
Paradise Island, Bahamas, 20 Credit Hrs., cat. 1
April6-9, 1995
12th Annual International Breast Cancer Conference
Miami, FL, 18 Credit Hrs., cat. 1
March 16-18, 1995
11th Annual International Breast Cancer Conference
The American Cancer Society
Miami, FL, 18 Credit Hrs., cat. 1
March 10-12, 1994
Palm Beach Breast Cancer Conference-Good Samaritan Medical Center
The Breakers, Palm Beach, FL
February 17-19, 1994
Breast Imaging and Intervention Inot 21st Century
University of Colorado of Medicine
Colorado Springs, CO, 24 Credit Hrs., cat. 1
July 26-30, 1993
Stereotactic Needle Core Biospy-Marietta Surgical Center
Marietta, GA
June 26, 1992
Comprehensive Breast Care-Team Approach
Orlando, FL
1991
American College of Surgeons: Radiology Seminar in Mammography
Orlando, FL
October 1988
Vitals Patients' Choice Award
On Time Doctor Award
American Society Breast Surgeons
Vitals Compassionate Doctor Award
Dr. Robert A. Gardner, M.D.

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