Education

Dr. Harding graduated Magna Cum Laude from Vanderbilt University in 1985 and went on to graduate from medical school at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in 1989. He completed his General Surgical training at Georgetown University in 1995. Dr. Harding also served in the US Naval Reserve from 1989 to 2004. In 2003 he served in Operation Iraqi Freedom as Commander in the U.S. Navy.

Chief Resident
General Surgery Integrated Program, Georgetown University, 1995

Residency
Integrated Program, Georgetown University, 1994

Research Fellowship
Surgery, Veteran's Administration Medical Center, 1992

Residency
Integrated Surgical Program, Georgetown University, 1991

Research Fellowship
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Oregon Health & Science University, Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 1991

Internship
Surgical Internship, Georgetown University, 1990

MD
Doctor of Medicine, Vanderbilt University, School of Medicine, 1989

Bachelor of Science, Magna Cum Laude
Vanderbilt University, 1985

Academic Appointments

Dr. Harding has been involved in teaching other surgeons his techniques, contributing to the advancement of the field. Dr. Harding has made significant educational contributions in the field of endocrine and minimally invasive surgery. Dr. Harding contributes to training the next generation of surgeons.

Associate Professor of Surgery at Creighton University School of Medicine

Assistant Clinical Professor in the Clinical Series for Surgery at the University of Arizona College of Medicine

Care Philosophy

Dr. Harding recognizes that many of his patients have already undergone several evaluations before being referred to a specialist. Reviewing the information from previous assessments plays a crucial role in guiding further recommendations. To make the process as seamless as possible for patients, we offer in-office services, including ultrasound and biopsy capabilities. Dr. Harding is committed to educating his patients about their various medical conditions, empowering them to understand how their personal efforts can significantly improve their overall health. By partnering with patients in their care, the best possible outcomes are always achieved.

Board-certified General Surgeon

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.

Educational Contributions

Dr. Harding is a regional instructor and has been actively involved in teaching other physicians advanced surgical techniques, including radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for thyroid nodules and endoscopic transoral thyroidectomy, a scarless surgical approach.

He was the first surgeon in Arizona to perform thyroid RFA and has since become a national leader in this technique. Additionally, he is a Program Director for the North American Society of Interventional Thyroidologists (NASIT) and helped lead its first national meeting, further advancing education and collaboration in the field.

Forefront of Surgical Advances

Richard J. Harding MD, FACS has been on the forefront of surgical advances since arriving in Phoenix, Arizona. Dr. Harding is not only a Pioneer in RFA in the Southwest but also a regional instructor and the first MD in AZ to perform Thyroid RFA. He was the first to perform many of the advanced laparoscopic and robotic operations at his hospitals.

Always on a mission to improve patient satisfaction, he was one of the first surgeons in the US to perform remote access robotic laparoscopic thyroid surgery in 2010. He continued to advance techniques for truly scar-less surgery with his introduction of Transoral Endoscopic Thyroidectomy Vestibular Approach to Arizona in 2018. With over 28 years of performing ultrasound based diagnostic interventions, including saphenous vein ablation, he mastered ultrasound based therapies for the thyroid gland.

He introduced the radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of benign thyroid nodules to Arizona and the southwest in 2019. In 2024, Dr. Harding introduced Nanosecond Pulsed Field Ablation (nsPFA) for thyroid nodules, a high volutage DC electric field in very short-duration pulses.

Dr. Harding 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 was the first surgeon in Arizona to perform thyroid nodule Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA). He is the most experienced thyroid surgeon in Arizona having performed hundreds of minimally invasive thyroid nodule RFA treatments at the Thyroid Nodule Treatment Center, where he is Medical Director.

Dr. Harding was the 2nd surgeon in the country, and the 3rd surgeon in the world to perform Nanosecond Pulsed Field Ablation (nsPFA) on thyroid nodules. nsPFA creates a high volutage DC electric field in very short-duration pulses. It penetrates the cell membrane and disrupts internal cellular function, leading to regulated cell death. nsPFA eliminates targeted cells while sparing adjacent noncellular tissue. It is a nonthermal treatment because the total energy delivered is low. Unlike thermal (heat/cold) modalities, nsPFA directly impacts cellular structures while sparing noncellular tissue.

Surgical Privileges

Where your surgery takes place depends on the type of surgery. Relatively minor procedures can be done at the doctor's office to save you the time and expense involved in a hospital visit. Major surgery is usually done in a hospital or an outpatient surgery center.

For your convenience, Dr. Harding practices at many of the area’s hospitals and surgery centers.

Dignity St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center
St. Joseph's Outpatient Surgery Center
Banner University Medical Center
Banner Atlas Surgical Center
Banner Desert Medical Center

Global Surgical Outreach

Dr. Richard Harding has participated in multiple medical missions with Kenya Relief, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing surgical, medical, and humanitarian aid to underserved communities in Kenya. As part of these missions in 2018 and 2019, Dr. Harding contributed his expertise in general and endocrine surgery, performing procedures and helping train local medical staff at the Kenya Relief medical facility. His work supported the organization’s broader mission to deliver sustainable healthcare, education, and community development.

Videos documenting Dr. Harding’s involvement—produced by Amy Montalvo of ONEPASS Productions—highlight the impact of these missions and his commitment to global surgical outreach. You can learn more about the organization at kenyarelief.org.

Affiliations

Dr. Harding is a member of these organizations:

North American Society for Interventional Thyroidology
American Association of Endocrine Surgeons
American Board of Surgery
American Thyroid Association
Arizona Medical Association
Arizona Chapter, American College of Surgeons
Arizona Associated Surgeons
Arizona Advanced Surgery
Fellow, American College of Surgeons
Maricopa County Medical Society
Phoenix Surgical Society
Thyroid Nodule Treatment Center, Medical Director