Dr. Gardner, Medicine
Dr. Frank H. Gardner, a former professor of medicine at Penn Medicine and Presbyterian-University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, died at his home in Galveston, Texas, on April 6 at age 93.
Born in California, he received his BS and MD degrees from Northwestern University, and was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha medical honor society upon graduation. Following an internship and residency in Chicago and San Francisco, he accepted a position as instructor of medicine at the Harvard University Medical School. From 1949-1966 he maintained a clinical practice in hematology at the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston.
During the Korean War he served in the US Army Medical Corps, 1953-1955, stationed at Fort Buchanan in Puerto Rico. His work at the Tropical Research Medical Laboratory led to significant improvements in the diagnosis and treatment of Tropical Sprue, a debilitating disease affecting thousands of allied troops fighting in jungle climates.
In 1966, Dr. Gardner was appointed professor of medicine at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. He continued his clinical work at the Presbyterian-University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, first as director of the Hematology Research Laboratory, and later as director of medicine. He served also as a consultant in hematology at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the Philadelphia VA Hospital.
In 1975, he moved to Galveston, Texas and began an association with UTMB that lasted for 35 years. Dr. Gardner achieved international recognition for his work in the diagnosis and treatment of cancers of the blood. He had special interests in the areas of the preservation of human blood platelets and bone marrow transplantation.
In 2004, the Frank H. Gardner Conference Room was dedicated at the Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, recognizing his important contributions to the University as both an inspirational teacher and renowned hematologist.
He is survived by his three sons: Frank W. (Linda); Peter (Patricia Smith), and William (Lorraine); two grandchildren: Caroline Smith Gardner, and Peter Smith Gardner.
Donations may be made to the Ronald McDonald House or Hospice Care Team, Inc.
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