Close collaboration with your primary care physician
Focus on Minimally Invasive Alternatives to Open Surgery
Full Range of Surgical Treatment Options
Experienced, Highly Trained & Dedicated Staff
Dedication to Compassion and comfortable patient experience
Respectful Patient Care
Spanish Speaking translation available
State of the art facilities
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Specialties
Endocrine
Adrenalectomy – da Vinci / Laparoscopic / Retroperitoneal
Advanced Thyroid Cancer Surgery
Parathyroidectomy – Minimally Invasive/ Endoscopic Parathyroidectomy (TOEPVA)
Thyroidectomy
Scarless Thyroidectomy & Parathyroidectomy /Endoscopic Thyroidectomy (TOETVA)
Ultrasound Localization and Biopsy Capability
Cholecystectomy & da Vinci SILS Cholecystectomy - Laparoscopic
Thyroid
Radio Frequency Ablation (RFA) of Thyroid Nodules
Non-surgical treatment for large benign thyroid nodules.
Transoral Endoscopic Thyroidectomy & Parathyroidectomy
Ultrasound guided thyroid biopsy
Ultrasound Parathyroid localization
Advanced Cancer Thyroidectomy
CellFX nsPFA
Biopsy of Thyroid
Scarless Thyroidectomy & Parathyroidectomy
Abdominal
Gastrointestinal and Solid Organ Surgery
Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy
Cholecystectomy – Laparoscopic
Splenectomy – Laparoscopic
Antireflux Surgery– da Vinci / Laparoscopic / LINX
Hiatal Hernia Repair -da Vinci / Laparoscopic
Gastric Resection – Laparoscopic / Open
Colectomy – da Vinci
Laparoscopic
THYROID
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ABDOMEN
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ENDOCRINE
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HERNIA
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Dr. Richard Harding
Dr. Harding specializes in general surgery—focusing on minimally invasive surgery for conditions of the endocrine system, and also esophagus, stomach, small bowel, colon, liver, pancreas, gallbladder and bile ducts. He also provides treatment for hernias.
Richard J. Harding, MD, FACS is a Board-certified General Surgeon and Fellow of The American College of Surgeons. Dr. Harding has been in private practice performing general surgery procedures since 1995. Dr. Harding has for more than 25 years, been at the forefront 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 and further. Patients often plan a vacation to Phoenix for their procedure and enjoy vacationing with their family and friends.
- Expertise:
Minimally invasive surgery, endocrine surgery, robotic-assisted procedures.
- Education:
Graduated Magna Cum Laude from Vanderbilt University, completed medical school at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, and trained at Georgetown University.
- Innovations:
First surgeon in Arizona to perform Transoral Endoscopic Thyroidectomy, a scarless thyroid surgery.
- Military Service:
Served in the U.S. Naval Reserve and was on active duty during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
- Awards:
Voted Top Doctor by Phoenix Magazine and recognized for excellence in robotic surgery.
His FACS designation reflects his commitment to high-quality surgical care, ongoing education, and ethical practice.
Distinctions
What Our
Patients Are Saying
Dr Harding is the best Doctor/surgeon I have ever been to. He is caring and thorough in everything he does. It took me over a year to finally have my surgery and he worked with me every step of the way. When the day came to have surgery I had no stress and felt completely comfortable which is rare for having surgery. Everyone on his staff from the front desk to his surgery scheduler are awesome. My only regret as I know longer need a endroconologist so I won’t be seeing him again
Susan Rothman
I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer by my ENT at the end of March 2024. I was referred to Dr. Harding. I went to go see him for a consult. Needless to say I was scared and confused. He eased my anxiety right away. After my visit with him I knew I was in the right place. I wasn’t as scared as I first was when I arrived. I saw him early April and had my total thyroidectomy on 5/13/24. He answered all my questions and addressed my concerns. He is very kind and has a gentle demeanor about him. I am so grateful that he was my surgeon through all of this.
Dr. Harding thank you for all you’ve done for me. You will be forever in my heart.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Romero
Maria Romero
Very highly credentialed surgeon and has excellent bedside manners. I feel confident in his expertise to be My surgeon for complex surgery
Susan Smith
I saw Dr Harding for a consult regarding removing several thyroid nodules and cysts, which are too small to remove at this point. He and his team explained everything and I felt well-heard.
Gwen Benoit
Dr. Harding is a very caring and thoughtful doctor. He always has a nice smile on his face and carries a good energy. He was willing to work with me the patient in order to figure out a “game plan”. Very happy I have been able to get treatment through him and not another doctor. All the other ones in the past have never actually fixed my issue and were rude.
Justin & Kacee Aguirre
My experience with Dr. Harding and his office staff has been excellent. He is very thorough and I feel I am in good hands. He and his staff are very pleasant.
Bruce Cutting
Dr. Harding , his staff, including all the staff at the hospital on the day of my hernia surgery were the most fantastic people I have ever had doing any kind of procedure on me! I cannot say enough about every single one of them. Dr. Harding is a fantastic, caring, wonderful surgeon!
Vicki Baggett
Dr. Harding performed my total thyroidectomy and Cholecystectomy in 2024. I was very pleased with both. Him and his staff are very professional and compassionate. One of my surgeries was at the hospital and the other was at the surgery center, the staff at both places were very friendly. I would highly recommend him to my friends and family.
Amber Wolfe
My surgical experience with Dr. Harding was exceptional. The day of my procedure his professionalism and knowledge put me at ease. I’m very grateful for a positive experience.
Cindy Kappeli
I had the radio frequency ablation procedure done & I am over the moon with the results! There was an immediate increase in my energy level. The down time was so minimal that it barely interrupted our family's schedule or routine. We saw significant changes, improvements, after 1 month. 6 months later, Dr. Harding was so pleased with the outcome that he does not need to see me for the 1 year check up. I'm beyond pleased that he has given me the greatest opportunity to live life with my young & active boys!!!! 100% get this procedure done! Thank you, Dr. Harding & staff!!!!!!
Tracy Schultz
From walking in the door, everyone was so friendly. I didn't even wait 5 minutes before they took me back. Dr. Harding was very personable. He looked over my records and knew exactly what needed to be done. 5 stars all the way around.
Robin Harrison
Dr. Harding has done two separate surgeries for me over the years and I am more than perfectly pleased by his skill, knowledge, accessibility and explanations. My surgeries healed quickly and without a lot of discomfort.
His staff is friendly and efficient. The outpatient facility is also excellent. Trust him!
Lisa Lawrence
I was amazed that DR Harding took the time and actually treated me. I went in for an initial consult and I got so much more. I wanted to cry because he was going to give me answers as I’ve been going from Dr to Dr for the issue. I would send anyone I know to him if they needed his expertise. So grateful for him and his nurse was very supportive and had me laughing so I wasn’t as anxious. Loved the nurse - since I was alone, she was my support.
Rea Lopez
Dr. Harding is a very thorough doctor. He takes the time to explain all options and what the side effects may be given each option. He gives you his expert opinion on what he believes the best option is for your case. I feel very comfortable taking his advice.
Donna Beson
I was referred out from a friend to Dr Harding. It was the best choice that I could have made. He is very knowledgeable and caring and the staff made me feel at ease. He books up fast so if you want to receive great care, you should call.
Karen Konik
I was very pleased with my experience with what could’ve been a very scary situation- thyroid cancer diagnosis. Dr. Harding and staff were very professional, informative and compassionate I will and have recommended him to others whom I know who have thyroid nodule issues. My surgery went smoothly and I’m very pleased with my healing process. The surgery scar was perfectly placed to look like it is not even there, just another crease in my neck. The Surgery team from the assistant Dr. to the anesthesiologist, were all very cordial and professional. It was comforting to hear their knowledge they shared in informing me of the next steps, also in answering questions I or my husband had.
Shenetta Harmon
Dr. Harding answered all my questions and more prior to surgery. He explained what to expect, listened patiently to my concerns and responded 100% to my questions. He and his staff were wonderful. The operating team came in to again explain what would be happening, and came out during surgery to let family know how it was going. I will be going back next week for the post-follow-up. I didn't need any pain medication and was eating normally that night. He and his team did a fantastic job on me.
Wanda Bales
I cannot speak highly enough of Dr. Richard Harding and their entire team. From the very first appointment, the experience has been exceptional. Dr.Harding is not only highly skilled and knowledgeable but also kind, compassionate, and attentive to every concern I had.
They took the time to thoroughly explain everything, answer all my questions, and make sure I felt comfortable and informed every step of the way. I truly appreciated their calm demeanor and genuine care—it made a big difference in my overall experience.
The level of professionalism and dedication to patient well-being is outstanding. I felt supported and respected throughout the entire process.
If you're looking for a physician who combines top-tier expertise with genuine compassion, I wholeheartedly recommend Dr. Harding . They made a challenging time much easier and treated me with the utmost care.
Elena Mastov
Dr. Harding performed RFA on my large, benign thyroid nodule in March of 2020. From my first visit with him, I knew I was in good hands. He took a lot of time with me explaining the procedure and answering all of my questions. He is very professional but also friendly. While in his care, I have felt that he genuinely is concerned about my well being. My RFA procedure went very well. I was only his 3rd patient in the U.S. to have RFA but he and his staff put me at ease. I knew I was lucky to have this well renowned surgeon in my hometown of Phoenix willing to give me the option of RFA over thyroid removal! My nodule has shrunk about 80% in volume over the past year and I no longer have a deviated windpipe causing choking nor the potential for further complications. I am so thankful I was able to preserve my thyroid and avoid surgery!
Sandy C.
I chose the Thyroid RFA procedure, as opposed to traditional surgery, for several reasons. For one, I wanted to purse a minimally invasive route. Additionally, I wanted to avoid surgery in the hospital setting, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. I had no apprehension with pursuing Thyroid RFA. The procedure itself was painless once the local anesthetic took effect, and afterwards I only had minor neck tenderness that improved with Tylenol. Since the procedure, my vocal hoarseness and swallowing has improved significantly. Dr. Harding is very knowledgeable and the staff are professional. I would recommend getting evaluated to determine if you are a good candidate for the Thyroid RFA procedure.
Paul B.
I can’t speak highly enough about Dr. Harding and his staff. After receiving a shocking and scary thyroid cancer diagnosis, I contacted his office. Dr. Harding quickly got me in for a consult, answered our countless questions and quickly put us at ease. Before I knew it, I was out of surgery with a nearly painless thyroidectomy and lymph node removal. I had minimal pain (surprisingly!), and felt great within a couple days. My scarring is minimal a few weeks out and as time passes I expect it to be unnoticeable. No one wants cancer, but if this happens to you you definitely want Dr. Harding in your corner. He’s the best! Highly recommended.
12/24 I’m back again posting another great review for Dr. Harding. I was told I needed to have my gallbladder removed. After meeting with Dr. Harding, he told me he was not going to be doing my surgery. He gave me advice on my diet and some other recommendations and sent me on my way. How many surgeons are honest enough to tell you that you are not ready for an unneeded surgery? Always a fan of Dr. Harding!
J. Demaria
Dr Richard Harding is an angel and saved my life, wish I could go in deep with all the details… I was shocked when he called me on a Saturday night to inform me that the office phone was down and that someone would return my call later after I left a voicemail while the office phone had some issues. He truly knows what he is doing and may God bless him and his family and give him a long and healthy life so he can save many patients, amen!
Jodi was texting or calling me with updates and I felt like I was the only patient :), perfect communication!
His team is amazing and I’m glad to have them for my procedure and would recommend them to everyone.
Thanks!
Souleymane F.
I had a great experience with the Thyroid RFA procedure. Before the Thyroid RFA procedure, I was having issues swallowing and experiencing a frequent cough. However, after undergoing the Thyroid RFA procedure, my nodule shrunk and my symptoms have completely resolved. I felt very comfortable during the procedure. To me, pursuing the option of RFA made a lot more sense than conventional surgery, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. I felt like I was in good hands with Dr. Harding- he is phenomenal!
Joseph A.
I developed a large nodule on my neck that was making it difficult for me to swallow. This growth made it uncomfortable to exercise as well since it affected my breathing.Dr. Harding performed RFA on my nodule, and almost instantly, I felt like a new person. My discomfort and insecurity disappeared that same day and the nodule was noticeably smaller within the first week.It has been 8 months since the procedure and my nodule has been reduced by about 75%. I don't notice it at all, nor do my family or friends. Getting this procedure done has made my life more enjoyable and given me back my confidence. I am grateful for Dr. Harding and would recommend RFA to anyone in my situation.The procedure itself was painless and fairly quick.
Robert S.
I had a great experience with the Thyroid RFA. I underwent Thyroid RFA for a hyper-functioning thyroid nodule. Since the surgery, I no longer have to take daily medication for hyperthyroidism. My symptoms have all significantly improved since undergoing the Thyroid RFA procedure. The team at the Thyroid Nodule Treatment Center were all very supportive. Dr. Harding always made feel seen and heard. The medical staff provided great encouragement during the procedure. I appreciated the in-office ultrasound for real-time feedback on the reduction in size of the thyroid nodule. The ability to preserve your thyroid function by avoiding surgery is absolutely worth it!"
Rosemary C.
Dr. Harding is the Best... Go see him ..... Took fantastic care of me. Performed thyroid an gallbladder surgery... Thx Dr Harding ... Not many scars either...
Alisha M.
Dr Harding is a very good surgeon and clearly communicated expectations after the procedure was completed.
K. W.
He was very thoughtful and informative. I feel much better now. That evil thyroid is out.
Mark S.
This place is a gem. Highly recommend Dr. Harding and his staff.
Mary H.
