Florida Public Health Institute

 

Dr. James T. Howell is a dynamic public health leader with forty years experience and expertise in executive decision making, policy development and direction, strategic business planning, legislative relations, financial and personnel management, health care facility regulation, program development and direction, and quality assurance and improvement

 

Dr. Howell earned his Bachelor of Science degree from St. John’s University in Queens,  York in 1962 and went on to receive the Doctor of Medicine degree from the New York Medical College in1966. Following an internship at Staten Island Hospital, he served his country as Captain in the Medical Services Corp. of the United States Army and Chief of the Preventative Medical Division at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. There he was responsible for the public health of 40,000 service personnel and their families. He also served as head physician of the Regional Army Nuclear, Biological and Radiation Accident Incident Control Board. His interest in preventive medicine and public health having been fostered by his military experiences, Dr. Howell entered the Public Health Residency program sited at the Palm Beach County Health Department. He became boarded in Preventive Medicine and earned a Masters in Public Health from Harvard University in 1972. He rose from his first position as a Public Health Physician I to his final position as Secretary and State Health Officer. He was appointed by the Governor of Florida to head the newly created Florida Department of Health at its inception. In that role, he administered a state agency with a 1.5 billion dollar budget and 13,000 employees.

 

Dr. Howell joined the faculty at Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine as Chair of the Department of Rural Medicine in 1999. In that position, he coordinates and supervises the three month clinical rotations undertaken by students at community health centers, physician offices and the Florida Department of Corrections. He teaches courses in rural medicine, lectures in public health courses and organizes educational programs that address unique aspects of rural medicine. Dr. Howell played a key role in the founding of the Center for Bioterrorism and All-Hazards Preparedness at Nova Southeastern University. He formed linkages with medical schools throughout the state and with the Florida Department of Health Emergency Response Team in order to collaborate in the formation of a statewide educational response to the threat posed by weapons of mass destruction and natural disasters. Since that time, the Center has grown and evolved into one of five national centers funded in part by the Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

 

Dr. Howell proudly serves on the following Boards of Directors: Glades General Hospital, the Florida Public Health Institute and the Florida Public Health Campus Advisory Council. He also serves on the Tobacco Education and Use Prevention Advisory Council of the Florida Department of Health and other health related groups.

 

In addition, he has been a long time member of the Palm Beach County Medical Society, is President of the Palm Beach County Medical Society Services and Chair of the Project Access Leadership Committee. Dr. Howell serves as a delegate to the Florida Medical Association and is an alternate delegate to the American Medical Association. He is a long time member the Florida Public Health Association.