General Surgeon

Richard J. Harding, M.D., F.A.C.S.Board Certified General Surgeon

Richard J. Harding, M.D., F.A.C.S. is a board-certified General Surgeon and has been in private practice; performing general surgery procedures since 1995. Dr. Harding has more than 25 years of experience in using minimally invasive surgical techniques. Dr. Harding's skill at small incision surgery and his high success rate, attract patients not only throughout Arizona, but from neighboring Utah, Nevada and New Mexico, as well as California, Canada, and Mexico.

Dr. Harding utilizes the most modern surgical techniques for general surgery which yields excellent results with shorter hospital recovery. This includes operations utilizing advanced laparoscopic surgery and robotic assisted laparoscopic surgery.

Dr. Harding has dedicated a large part of his practice to endocrine surgery. He has performed over 1900 endocrine operations within the last 5 years, for adrenal, thyroid and parathyroid conditions. He is active in the American Association of Endocrine Surgeons. He is the first surgeon in the Southwest to perform a Transoral Endoscopic Thyroidectomy, which has the benefit of leaving no visible surgical scar. He is very familiar with the latest treatment guidelines for both thyroid and parathyroid diseases. He now also performs a Laparoscopic posterior adrenalectomy which significantly decreases recovery time for adrenal surgery conditions. For patients' convenience, many diagnostic tests and minor procedures can be performed in his office, including diagnostic ultrasound, ultrasound lymph node mapping, and ultrasound guided thyroid nodule biopsies.

Dr. Harding also treats simple and complex hernias, gallbladder disease, colon cancer, diverticulitis, and gastroesophageal reflux conditions. He performs many abdominal wall reconstructions in patients who have complex hernia conditions, usually resulting from prior surgical procedures or prior failed ventral hernia repairs.

Dr. Harding graduated Magna Cum Laude from Vanderbilt University and went on to graduate from medical school at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in 1989. He completed his surgical training at Georgetown University in 1995. Dr. Harding also served in the US Naval Reserve from 1989 to 2004. In 2003 he served on active duty as a Commander in the U.S. Navy in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Dr. Harding is a founding member of Arizona Associated Surgeons, a private practice formed with the goal of providing state-of-the-art, comprehensive patient care. He now serves as the Section Chief for the Division of General Surgery at St. Joseph's Medical Center.

Through his education and years of practice, Dr. Harding developed expertise in performing minimally invasive operations, which utilize small incisions. This type of surgery allows patients to recover more quickly, with less scarring and pain. Regarding his approach to surgery, Dr. Harding says, "I enjoy helping patients feel better. It gives me great satisfaction to perform surgery that not only addresses the surgical condition but also provides a substantial improvement in his or her quality of life."

Dr. Harding is happily married to a beautiful nurse, with four children and has resided in Arizona for the past 22 years.

Dr. Harding is a member of these organizations:

• Fellow, American College of Surgeons
• Arizona Chapter American College of Surgeons
• Phoenix Surgical Society
• Maricopa Medical Society
• Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgery
• Southwest Surgical Society
• American Association of Endocrine Surgeons
• American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists