‘The Dropout’ is a drama series that chronicles the rise and fall of Elizabeth Holmes (Amanda Seyfried), a Stanford dropout and founder of the biotech company Theranos. In the series, Holmes develops an idea for a product that could revolutionize the blood testing market. She shares her early ideas with her professor, Phyllis Gardner. Gardner provides some interesting insights that play a vital role in Holmes’ decision to pursue its goal of further developing the product. Therefore, viewers should be curious to learn more about Gardner and her ultimate fate. Here’s everything we know about Phyllis Gardner and her whereabouts!
Who is Phyllis Gardner?
Phyllis Gardner, born July 7, 1950, is an American biologist who is known for being one of the first people to oppose and criticize the ideas of Elizabeth Holmes. In the premiere episode of ‘The Dropout’, actress Laurie Metcalf writes the role of Gardner. Metcalf is an Academy Award nominated actress known for her appearances in films and shows such as ‘Lady Bird’, ‘Malcolm in the Middle’ and ‘Fraiser’. Some viewers will recognize the actress from her role as Jackie Harris in the sitcom ‘The Connors’.
Garder received her undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois, with a focus on biology. She then attended Harvard University Medical School and passed out in 1976. In 1984, Gardner entered Stanford University. In 1998, Gardner became the Senior Associate Dean for Education and Student Affairs at Stanford. In 2002, Holmes approached Gardner to discuss her idea for a microfluidic device for blood testing. However, Gardner remained skeptical of the idea’s viability and explained its shortcomings to Holmes. Nevertheless, Holmes dropped out of Stanford and Theranos started developing her concept further.
Where is Phyllis Gardner now?
Holmes’ Theranos failed to produce the results it promised its investors. Soon, the company’s policies and claims received a lot of media attention. Subsequently, in 2018, the company was dissolved and Holmes was charged with fraud. Her trial ended in 2022 and she is awaiting sentencing. On the other hand, Gardner has remained vocal about her views and opinions on Holmes and Theranos. Gardner and Holmes were joint members of the Harvard Medical School Board of Fellows. However, Gardner refused to allow Holmes to enter the Stanford campus.
Gardner became one of the first people to vocally oppose Holmes after being a source for John Carreyrou’s reveal article about Theranos for The Wall Street Journal. As of 2019, Gardner will continue to serve as a professor of medicine at Stanford. Gardner teaches courses such as Directed Reading in Medicine, Early Clinical Experience in Medicine, Graduate Research, Medical Scholars Research, and Undergraduate Research at Stanford.
She has also served as a board member for companies such as Revance Therapeutics and CohBar. Gardner is the founder of several biotech companies such as Genomics Collaborative, SKOLAR and CambriaTech Holding Co. Gardner is currently 71 years old and married to Andrew Perlman. She prefers to keep her private life out of the media and not much is known about her family and husband. Garnder reportedly continues to live on the Stanford Campus.
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