は別（べつ）として is a set phrase with the meaning of ‘setting aside (A)’, ‘except for (A)’, or ‘save for (A)’. This structure combines は, 別（べつ）, a noun meaning ‘difference’, ‘separation’, or ‘distinction’, と, and the て-form of する. Due to this combination, the more literal meaning is ‘going ahead with (A) as an exception’, and just declares that (A) is something that is being completely disregarded before discussing the main point.
As は is simply marking the topic in the same way that it usually does, this phrase may be seen before a noun, or any other word that would usually be grouped with は. This frequently includes things like かどうか.

• この家（いえ）の外観（がいかん）は別（べつ）として、中（なか）は完全（かんぜん）にリフォームされているからとても綺麗（きれい）だ。
  Setting aside the exterior of this house, the inside is very clean because it has been completely remodeled.
• ホラーは別（べつ）として映画（えいが）なら基本的（きほんてき）になんでも好（す）きです。
  Setting aside horror, I generally like any movie.
• 給料（きゅうりょう）がいいかどうかは別（べつ）として、自分（じぶん）が楽（たの）しいと思（おも）える仕事（しごと）がしたい。
  Setting aside whether the pay is good or not, I want a job that I will enjoy.
• このハンバーガーは体（からだ）にいいかどうかは別（べつ）として、とても美味（おい）しい。
  Setting aside whether this burger is good for my body or not, it is very tasty.

It is also fairly common to see the (A) word repeated in both its positive and negated form. This has the nuance of ‘whether or not’, in the same way as かどうか.

• このお茶（おちゃ）は美味（おい）しい美味（おい）しくないは別（べつ）として、健康（けんこう）にいいらしい。
  I hear this tea is good for your health, whether it tastes good or not.
• 試合（しあい）で優勝（ゆうしょう）するしないは別（べつ）として、精一杯（せいいいっぱい）頑張（がんば）る事（こと）が大切（たいせつ）だ。
  Whether or not you win the match, it is important to do your best.

Despite this grammar structure being used to essentially remove (A) from what is being discussed, the primary reason for this is that (A) is usually an exception to some particular rule or constant that the speaker wants to highlight.