Dr. James T. Howell Honored
On Tuesday, November 27, 2017, the District’s Board of Commissioners honored Dr. James T. Howell for his decades of service to the Health Care District of Palm Beach County. Over the last 27 years, Dr. Howell has provided health care leadership for Palm Beach County residents as the Secretary of the Department of Health, a founding member of the Health Care District Board of Commissioners, Board Member for the former Glades General Hospital Board and as a member of Lakeside Medical Center’s Advisory Board, along with numerous committee rotations including the Finance Committee and most recently the Quality Committee. His eight-year term on the Quality Committee concluded in September 2017.
Dr. Howell was instrumental in the creation of the Health Care District. He worked diligently to get the second referendum for the District passed on November 8, 1988. Shortly thereafter, Howell was appointed Secretary of Health for the state of Florida. During his tenure with the State, Dr. Howell came to the Health Care District and encouraged the Board to establish the School Health program which celebrated its 20th anniversary in August. Thanks to Dr. Howell, almost every Palm Beach County public school has an on-site registered nurse to keep our students healthy. And, healthier kids learn better. In addition, during his tenure on Lakeside Medical Center’s Health Advisory Board, he worked on the development of the hospital’s Family Medicine Residency Program. The program is Florida’s only rural teaching hospital and graduated its fifth class of Family Medicine Physicians in June of this year.
Dr. James T. Howell earned his Bachelor of Science degree from St. John's University in New York in 1962 and his Doctor of Medicine degree from New York Medical College in 1966. Since then, he has spent a lifetime dedicated to improving public health and the Health Care District of Palm Beach County is profoundly grateful for his service.