About Dr. Gordan
Dr. Bradley C. Gordan knew from an early age that he wanted to become a physician. “I always liked to take things apart, fix them and put them back together,” he explains. “Surgery is very much like that.” His passion for medicine was solidified when he worked as a brain injury and spinal cord injury rehabilitation tech after graduating college. “Working with those patients was not only a very rewarding experience, but I also saw how their physicians integrated a team approach — from therapists, to nurses, to the techs — to help them through some of the most devastating injuries humans can endure.”

He chose to practice at Beacon because of his shared passion for providing excellent care to South Bend and surrounding areas. After completing a Bariatric Surgery Fellowship at URMC Highland Hospital, he is looking forward to the opportunity to develop a bariatric program and hopefully bring a Bariatric Center of Excellence to the area. “Obesity and its associated chronic health conditions, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, arthritis, diabetes, and high cholesterol, have become an epidemic in this country. Bariatric surgery provides patients the ability to have most of these diseases improve, if not completely resolve.”

Dr. Gordan strongly believes in the team approach as critical to enabling the best care possible for his patients and their families. “Whether you are a general surgery patient or a bariatric patient, you will have a team guiding you through your care and recovery,” Dr. Gordan says, “we’re here to help you through the whole process, from myself, to nurses, therapists and care coordinators.”

He also understands the importance of compassion and humility. “Communication is so critical,” he says. “I know from experience: surgery is scary. I want to make my patients as comfortable as possible about their procedure. I spend a great deal of time explaining a patient’s diagnosis and what needs to be done to fix their problem, including hand-drawn pictures for them. I always say pictures are worth a thousand words.”

Dr. Gordan wants his patients to know that he will always provide the same care for them that he would want for himself and his own family. “I hope they understand that I’m no different from them. I’m human, I have a family and a child. I’m here to help them — to improve their condition and their quality of life.”

In His Own Words
Who is or was the most influential person/role model in your life? My training program Chief of Surgery, Dr. Richard Wait. He was one of the best physicians I have ever trained under. I’ll always remember his expertise, patient care and compassion.

What was your first job growing up? What do you remember about it?  I was a lifeguard. I met some of the best friends while working there that I am still close with today.

What is your favorite food? Movie? My favorite food is a good buffalo chicken sandwich. My favorite movie is Willow, a Ron Howard film from the late 1980s that’s not well known.

If you could sit down to dinner with anyone (alive or deceased) who would it be and why? I would like to sit down with Dr. Halstead. He was the pioneer of surgery in the early 1900s. It would be fascinating to hear the stories of how some of the modern surgeries were eventually developed and perfected.

In addition to medicine, what are you passionate about?  My wife and I enjoy trying new restaurants and going to the theater as often as possible. I also love to fish.

What is something most people don’t know about you?  I went to Bangladesh for a medical mission trip during medical school.