James C Gardner, MD

Doctor Gardner has been in his Greenbrae, CA office since I was a teenager. Going to the doctor can be nerve racking for me, I have a lot going on for my age.
Yet at Dr. Gardner’s I always feel as though I am family in his office. He cares deeply about each visit taking his time to thoroughly examine symptoms and make good decisions with me for my health. I always feel at ease when I am talking to him.
Recently, I was left with no diagnosis or direction from my rushed Kaiser Doctor appointment for a spider bite.
I quickly booked with Dr. G and left the appointment feeling so much better with clear answers. He listened and thought it was a brown recluse as I did and even made me laugh while he recommended ways to get my house sprayed to protect my kids.
He is the best! He has also written some awesome books.

I have been seeing Dr. Gardner for about 15 years. He is one of the best doctors I’ve ever seen. Kind, compassionate and really takes the time to talk with you and explain test results, diagnoses, etc. Unfortunately, he no longer direct bills to insurance because of the paltry fees GP’s receive from insurance companies and the bureaucracy involved (made worse by the Affordable Care Act). His staff will provide a bill that you can submit to your insurance for reimbursement. But, I still see him because he is just fantastic.

Dr. Gardner is a very thorough doctor, who is very highly regarded among the medical community I am connected to. I would like to really write this review about his lovely wife, Patti, who has gone above and beyond for our family recently with regards to insurance issues. Patti is an outstanding person who really cares about the patients, and is willing to work hard and long to get things authorized, etc. She’s a gem.

Comprehensive and kind. I went to Dr. Sophie Mirviss and still do for certain things, but she just wasn’t as thorough. Dr. Gardner when through my blood panel and explained levels and what my options were to feel better. His lovely wife manages the front desk and Patti is a delight. This is not convenient for me coming from SF and working in the South Bay but I’ve never found a more concerned, professional and adept doctor.

I’m a new Bio identical hormone therapy patient of dr Gardner and I have to say this has changed my life. It’s been only a couple weeks since insertion and I already feel like a million bucks!
Dr Gardner explains everything so completely, is very caring and thorough. He spent a lot of time with me explaining every detail of my blood work and the procedure.
His office staff are so pleasant and very competent as well, professional and friendly.
I’m very grateful I decided to take the hormone plunge. Best decision ever. Don’t hesitate.

Dr. Gardner is a good GP, but the rest of the staff falls under the dingbat category. They lack the necessary social skills, and were probably raised in a ghetto housing project. I guess they are cheap labor, so that works for the Doctor.
Treat them the same as they treat you, with a rude, idiotic, I could care less attitude; and they will be forced to clean their act up!

I have seen Doctor Gardner on and off for over fifteen years. When I ve moved, I would see him, when my insurance changed, I would see him, if I wanted a second opinion, I would see him. He was always correct when other physicians were wrong or over reacting when it came to my medical or skin issues. When it comes to dermatological issues, he is just as, if not MORE knowledgeable than any Dermatologists-​ONLY MDs I have seen. He is also extremely caring, gentle, goes out of his way to make his patients feel comfortable and heard. Doesn’t try to Up-​sell you with any of his own products like most Marin Derms. Sometimes it gets busy, like any office, but I have never seen any patient being treated disrespectfully. I adore Dr. Gardner and his wife, Patty and no matter where they go or I end up going, I will always seek Dr. Gardner’s «Sage» advice and educated treatment.

Dr. Gardner has been my doctor for 20 years. He’s a Stamford trained doctor, very knowledgeable and really enjoys explaining things in detail. The office is lovely, decorated beautifully in a relaxing Asian style that makes the waiting room seem more like a comfortable living room than a doctor’s office. Dr. Gardner always goes beyond the basics, and rather than just throw a drug at you, discusses options, including some holistic options that might work as well. Lucky for me, I was in for a routine update on medication before heading overseas, and Dr. Gardner spotted a skin cancer on my face. He removed it so perfectly, I have no scar and I hardly remember where it was on my face. If you need to be referred to a specialist, he seems to know all the best ones in the area, and makes a reference easy. Even though my current insurance is not covered at Dr. Gardner’s, I still go, knowing that I’m taking care of the most important asset I own… my body.

I have the highest respect for Dr. Gardner. Not only because he is incredibly knowledgable, but because he EXPLAINS everything in a way that is not demeaning. I am the type of person that has to understand a process or a treatment to feel comfortable, and he takes the time with each patient that they require. Most doctors rush you, but not Dr. Gardner. He also was able to alleviate symptoms that i had causing me to break out over my chest and back after I turned 40. Possibly hormonal, but his direction helped take care of the issure, as well as a few other issues that he was able to address like getting rid of moles and skin tags and educating me about the pro’s and con’s of laser resurfacing. He is a rare find, with ethical dignity that is too short in supply these days.

I think Dr. Gardner does walk on water. He is my favorite doctor ever.
I have found him very well-​informed and expert at treatment. He really spend times listen to me and try to find the best treatment or option for his patients. He is competent in a number of areas outside of general medicine.

My view is that Dr Gardner is very good, but perhaps not deserving of the highest rating.
At this point I’ve seen him for physicals every year for the last 3 years or so, and have had no other issues.
As others have mentioned, he is very knowledgable and allows more time per visit than most other Dr’s I’ve had. He has provided me with good advice, and is easy to talk to. He is pretty comprehensive in his exams, but interestingly is relatively cursory in skin examination, which is his specialty. He appears flexible in his support for a range of possible therapies.
OTOH, I sometimes think he talks a bit too much about subjects that are a little off topic. He requests two visits for my yearly physical (ostensibly to first direct and they go over lab results), when in fact one would do perfectly well. He refuses to provide email support, which is clearly one way to make this terribly inefficient industry more efficient. (Kaiser Dr’s and others that I’ve had do provide email support. I’m told by a friend in the business that private pay Dr’s can get paid for email support, but apparently they don’t feel it worth the effort.)
All in all I like and would recommend him, but I don’t feel he is among the very best of the GP’s that I’ve had.

Wow Robin, you sound like you were having a really bad day. I, like Joe W. believe Dr. G does walk on water and I’ve always had great support from his staff. I used to live in Sausilito and loved having Dr. Gardner as my personal physician. I currently live in La Quinta and I can’t begin to tell you how much I miss the kind of care that I got when I lived in Marin. Whenever I know I’m going to be in S.F., I make a special trip to see him. There aren’t many doctors who take the time that he does – I always leave with all of my questions answered and never have felt rushed out of the office. He has always been right-​on in my care, as well.
I’ve always found that people treat you as you treat them. You might want to think back on your tone when you called. Food for thought.
My recommendation is that most doctors could take lessons on how to treat patients from Dr. Gardner.
And, Dr. G., if you and Patty do decided to retire, I hope it is to the desert where you would be very welcome.

Good doctor if you have the right insurance carrier. I have a PPO with a new company and he does not accept. Boo.

I have been going to Dr Gardner for the last 13+ years. I am chronically Ill and so I do have to see him fairly often. He has always treated me like a human, unlike many other Dr’s or Specialists I have gone to. I have been without health insurance for about 10 years, well actually, I was about 2 years without it, and then I was given insurance through my husbands company. However, I have never had an insurance provider that Dr Gardner accepted. So for 10 years or so I have paid out of pocket to see him. I could have changed Dr’s and found someone who was covered by my Insurance. But I never have.
Dr Gardner knows all the ins and outs of my health problems, and again treats me like a human. He always explains exactly what’s going on with me. When I have a flare of any kind, he always manages to fit me into his schedule, even if it’s a same day appointment. Yes, it can be expensive to see the Dr and especially on a regular basis that I need to, and I’ve had many people tell me to change to someone who is on my plan, and I suppose it would make more sense to do that, especially financially. However, I refuse to change Dr’s. I don’t want to go through 13+ years of medical history with a new Dr, but more importantly, I refuse to put my health care into the hands of someone I know nothing about, or who knows nothing about me. Dr Gardner is the best Dr I’ve ever had, even out of all the specialists ive seen, I can relax knowing that there is always Dr Gardner who is on my side and is always thinking of the best (and most cost effective) way’s to treat me. I plan on being a patient of Dr Gardner for as long as he’ll have me.
As far as some people’s comments on the front desk staff, I have never had a problem with any of them. I have seen front desk staff come and go, but I have never had any problems with any of them. They have all been able to speak English and assist me with making appointments and giving me info on referred specialists. The girls working there now are great and very helpful!
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Dr. Gardner is amazing! I had been to Kaiser for some skin irritation. They diagnosed it as rosacea, but the medications weren’t working. Frustrated, I called Dr. Gardner to see if lasers would help. The minute he saw me he said «this isn’t rosacea» — he immediately prescribed a medication that solved the problem immediately.
I felt like he gave me much more care and consideration than any other dermatologist I’ve seen. He’s honest, ethical and kind.

Dr. Gardner is without fail the most dedicated and devoted doctor — I am lucky to have been a patient of his for over 10 years now. He is my general practitioner of course, but also my dermatologist, psychotherapist, nutritionist, gynecologist as well!
He routinely checks over my annual blood work and doggedly compares it to years of past tests. He’s so up to date on all vitamins, new homeopathic breakthroughs, and other remedies– he’s written a few books on anxiety and depression I highly recommend.
His staff is warm and I actually enjoy going to see them all!

Dr. Gardner is one of the best Primary Care docs out there. From the time you walk into his office you are greeted with friendly, knowledgeable staff, and a beautiful waiting area. Often his dog Gizmo is running around back or sitting in the reception area. You never feel rushed, and he is very thorough and always eager to explain things or answer questions. He’s always kind and helpful. I imagine this is what it was like back in the «good olé days» before insurance companies dictated medical care.

Five Stars for sure regarding Dr. James Gardner. He has been serving my family (mom, dad, sister and me) for many years. He is very very good at diagnosing symptoms and problems and providing the right solutions and meds.
My wife kept going to her doctor for her re-​occuring headaches. They referred her to 2 different doctor before I convinced her to come to Dr. Gardner. He was able to diagnos her properly and in 3 days of meds she never had «that» headache again! He has helped my mom and dad so much, both of whom have chronic problems with different things.
Here on Unilocal I read a couple of reviews about his firm and they are all positive which I agree with. Yes, sometimes his 2 receptionists need a little help, don’t understand or are overwhelmed. He does not accept new patients becuase he is so over booked and that is becuase he IS THAT GOOD!
They are always very nice when I go in there and I think the receptionist problems are spotty at worst.
AWESOME DOCTOR!!! I have never been to a more involved doctor in my life, he volunteered to come into work 1 hour earlier just to fit my wife in becuase she was so sick… what doctor does that?
My whole family loves Dr. James Gardner!

Dr. Gardner is great! I didn’t have insurance and he saw me within a day. The prices were normal for ‘insurance-​less’ people. It was worth it for me because he really takes his time. He cares about what your concerns are and he is VERY thorough! He even asks about your psychological health during the visit. He will always leave you with a complete understanding of your issue. He shares all of his knowledge with you; it’s impossible to leave the office thinking that he has some magical power that’s inconceivable to non science people. He speaks to you like an equal. He discusses how he will test you, why he’s giving you those tests and he will go through all of the results with you. Ask questions if you have them! He has the answers and he is very honest too.
I’ve gone back to see him multiple times.

I must agree about the comment about the receptionist here– I don’t know if the same one is still there but I’ve dealt with one young lady for the two or three times I’ve been out to this office. Once, she tried charging an extra fee out of nowhere and we had to talk to a superior to have her straightened out– but generally, she just seems uninterested and a bit flaky. Once you get past that though, Dr. Gardner is a pretty helpful guy. He took quite a bit of time to discuss with me another issue I was having and made suggestions on a couple other specialists to see. He really seemed quite thoughtful in that regard.
Problem is, the botox must be overdiluted because it was largely ineffective. I went somewhere else and got results. So, wouldn’t rec this office for that purpose but it’s hardly the specialty there.