American Association for Physician Leadership

Dr. Michael Gardner

MD

Vice President/Administrator Women's and Children's Hospital

University Health, San Antonio, TX

Dr. Michael Gardner is Vice President/Administrator, Women and Children’s Hospital at University Health in San Antonio, TX. He is a native of El Paso, TX. Dr. Gardner received his medical degree from Texas Tech in Lubbock and has a Master of Public Health from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and a Master of Medical Management degree from the University of Southern California. He is Board Certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology as well as Maternal Fetal Medicine and remains clinically active. He also is a Certified Physician Executive.

Before moving to San Antonio in January 2023, Dr. Gardner lived in Las Vegas. He joined the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV as Vice Dean of Clinical Affairs and Strategy and UNLV Medicine as President and CEO in 2017. Dr. Gardner was responsible for the management of clinical activities for approximately 151 faculty physicians, 310 residents and 26 fellows, throughout 15 clinic locations. He managed over 400 employees and an annual budget in excess of $ 80 million. During the Covid19 Pandemic, he led his team in opening the first drive thru Covid19 testing site that was open from March – July 2020. In January 2021, UNLV Medicine opened two vaccination sites that have given over 115,000 doses of vaccines.

Dr. Gardner served as Executive Vice President for Ambulatory Care Services in Houston, Texas. In this role, he managed 18 Primary Care and Pediatric Clinics, 6 Same Day Clinics, multiple Specialty Clinics, as well as 14 Pharmacies, 2 Oncology Infusion Centers, a free-standing Dialysis Center, and a Radiation Treatment Center. He was responsible for the outpatient services for Harris Health, the 3rd largest safety net system in the United States. The clinics served approximately 300,000 patients a year with over a million annual visits.

Before returning to Houston, Dr. Gardner was the Chair of an Academic OB/GYN Department at the University of Oklahoma –Tulsa. He also was Chief of the OB/GYN Services at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta and an endowed professor at Emory University. He was the Chief of OB/GYN at Ben Taub General Hospital, part of Harris Health System and a Maternal Fetal Medicine faculty member for the Baylor College of Medicine from 1999-2005. He was also the Director of Medical Quality for AMS/Harris Health System from 2001-2005. He served as a general OB/GYN physician in the U.S. Air Force from 1989-1991.

He is a member of multiple organizations involving both Healthcare Management and Maternal Fetal Medicine.

Areas of Expertise

  • Maternal Fetal Medicine
  • Maternal Child Health
  • Ambulatory and Hospital Management
  • Academic Health Center Leadership
  • Strategic Thinking and Planning

Degrees

MD
Texas Tech University, Lubbock

MPH (Master of Public Health)
University of Alabama, Birmingham

MMM (Master of Medical Management)
University of Southern California

Certifications

  • Board Certified (ABOG) in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

  • Maternal Fetal Medicine, CPE.

For over 45 years.

The American Association for Physician Leadership has helped physicians develop their leadership skills through education, career development, thought leadership and community building.

The American Association for Physician Leadership (AAPL) changed its name from the American College of Physician Executives (ACPE) in 2014. We may have changed our name, but we are the same organization that has been serving physician leaders since 1975.

CONTACT US

Mail Processing Address
PO Box 96503 I BMB 97493
Washington, DC 20090-6503

Payment Remittance Address
PO Box 745725
Atlanta, GA 30374-5725
(800) 562-8088
(813) 287-8993 Fax
customerservice@physicianleaders.org

CONNECT WITH US

LOOKING TO ENGAGE YOUR STAFF?

AAPL providers leadership development programs designed to retain valuable team members and improve patient outcomes.

American Association for Physician Leadership®

formerly known as the American College of Physician Executives (ACPE)