Dr. Jessica E Gardner

Tidewater Children's Associates

American Board of Pediatrics

Medical School: East Carolina University

Residency: Eastern Virginia Medical School

Dr. Gardner is originally from Venezuela, but grew up in Raleigh, North Carolina, where she completed her undergraduate degree in chemical engineering at North Carolina State University. 

She went on to attend medical school in Greenville, North Carolina, at East Carolina University. Her military spouse brought her to the Hampton Roads area in 2009 where she completed her pediatrics residency at CHKD. 

Dr. Gardner joined Tidewater Children’s Associates in 2022, bringing with her more than 10 years of experience serving military families as a pediatrician for Naval Medical Center Portsmouth and its branch clinics throughout the area.

Perhaps her most valuable experience has come from being on the other side of room as the parent of a child with special healthcare needs. Her youngest son was cared for at CHKD throughout his cancer diagnosis, treatment, and surveillance. 

The first-hand knowledge of the fear and uncertainty that parents feel when their child is sick has given her the tools to better understand and communicate with her patients. She is excited to join the CHKD team that has treated her own children like family over the years.

Outside of work, Dr. Gardner is a busy mom of three kids. Her hobbies include ballet, reading, and spending time at the beach with her family. 

Dr. Gardner enjoys the variety that comes with working in general pediatrics. As a native Spanish-speaker, she is also passionate about bridging the communication barriers between Spanish-speaking patients and their healthcare team.

Harrington J, Logan S, Swingle J, Harwell C, Gardner J, Santos R. “Effective Analgesia Using Physical Interventions for Infant Immunizations” Pediatrics 2012; 129:5 815-822