John Howard (public health administrator)
Encyclopedia
John Howard is a physician, professor, and public health administrator. He served a 6-year term as the director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
and was appointed to be a special coordinator to respond to the health effects of the September 11 attacks. In this role Howard advocated for rescue workers, introducing a program to provide screening, medical exams, and treatment for them. In 2009, Howard was again appointed as director of NIOSH and as World Trade Center Programs coordinator for HHS.
in 1982. In 1986, Dr. Howard earned a Juris Doctor from the University of California, Los Angeles
(UCLA), and a Master of Laws in Administrative Law and Economic Regulation from The George Washington University in 1987. In addition, Dr. Howard is a board-certified occupational physician and has written numerous papers on occupational health law and policy.
. His clinical work involved asbestos
-exposed shipyard workers, and he published research findings related to workplace exposure and occupational lung disease
. He served as a medical director and chief clinician at the Philip Mandelker AIDS Prevention Clinic.
He also worked as an assistant professor of environmental and occupational medicine at the University of California, Irvine
.
in California's Department of Industrial Relations beginning in 1991. There he administered a staff of nearly 1,000 and all the state's occupational and public safety programs. Through his administration of the division, Howard bolstered his reputation in the field as a passionate and able leader. He received praise for successfully implementing a controversial statewide ergonomic standard. He served in this capacity for more than a decade.
resigned in November 2000 as the director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. The position was not filled until July 15, 2002, when Tommy Thompson
, Health and Human Services
Secretary placed John Howard in the post. The gap between Rosenstock and Howard was the longest between directors in the agency's 31 year history. The appointment was immediately praised by several organizations including the American Industrial Hygiene Association
and AFL-CIO
.
, nanotechnology
, job stress
, and ergonomics
. Howard summarized the adjustments the Institute needed to make:
Howard expanded the National Occupational Research Agenda
(NORA) instituted by his predecessor, Dr. Rosenstock, using it as a vehicle to work toward the Institute's updated aims.
to be a special coordinator to handle the medical issues afflicting 9/11 rescue workers, specifically those at the World Trade Center site. Howard introduced the World Trade Center (WTC) Medical Monitoring and Treatment Program, which offered medical help and screening to emergency workers.
(CDC) director Julie Gerberding
met with him to inform him that he would not be reappointed. His term ended on July 14, 2008, in a "controversial decision that brought criticism from safety and health stakeholders". He completed his term and began serving as a temporary senior advisor to the CDC director. NIOSH associate director Christine Branche, Ph.D., served as acting director in Dr. Howard's place.
announced Howard's reappointment as director of NIOSH and World Trade Center Programs coordinator for HHS.
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health is the United States’ federal agency responsible for conducting research and making recommendations for the prevention of work-related injury and illness. NIOSH is part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention within the U.S...
and was appointed to be a special coordinator to respond to the health effects of the September 11 attacks. In this role Howard advocated for rescue workers, introducing a program to provide screening, medical exams, and treatment for them. In 2009, Howard was again appointed as director of NIOSH and as World Trade Center Programs coordinator for HHS.
Education
John Howard received a doctor of medicine degree from Loyola University in 1974 (cum laude). To this he added a Master of Occupational Health from the Harvard School of Public HealthHarvard School of Public Health
The Harvard School of Public Health is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University, located in the Longwood Area of the Boston, Massachusetts neighborhood of Mission Hill, which is next to Harvard Medical School. HSPH is considered a significant school focusing on health in the...
in 1982. In 1986, Dr. Howard earned a Juris Doctor from the University of California, Los Angeles
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
(UCLA), and a Master of Laws in Administrative Law and Economic Regulation from The George Washington University in 1987. In addition, Dr. Howard is a board-certified occupational physician and has written numerous papers on occupational health law and policy.
Physician and professor
Dr. Howard began his career in occupational health in 1979 as an internist at the UCLA School of Medicine pulmonary fellowship program at Cedars-Sinai Medical CenterCedars-Sinai Medical Center
Originally established as Kaspare Cohn Hospital in 1902, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is a non-profit, tertiary 958-bed hospital and multi-specialty academic health science centre located in Los Angeles, California, US. Part of the Cedars-Sinai Health System, the hospital employs a staff of over...
. His clinical work involved asbestos
Asbestos
Asbestos is a set of six naturally occurring silicate minerals used commercially for their desirable physical properties. They all have in common their eponymous, asbestiform habit: long, thin fibrous crystals...
-exposed shipyard workers, and he published research findings related to workplace exposure and occupational lung disease
Occupational lung disease
Main Article Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Occupational lung diseases are a branch of occupational diseases concerned primarily with work related exposures to harmful substances, be they dusts or gases, and the subsequent pulmonary disorders that may occur as a result...
. He served as a medical director and chief clinician at the Philip Mandelker AIDS Prevention Clinic.
He also worked as an assistant professor of environmental and occupational medicine at the University of California, Irvine
University of California, Irvine
The University of California, Irvine , founded in 1965, is one of the ten campuses of the University of California, located in Irvine, California, USA...
.
Department of Industrial Relations, California
John Howard served as the chief of the Division of Occupational Safety and HealthCalifornia Occupational Safety and Health Administration
The California Occupational Safety and Health Administration protects the public and workers from safety hazards and enforces the U.S. State of California's occupational and public safety laws...
in California's Department of Industrial Relations beginning in 1991. There he administered a staff of nearly 1,000 and all the state's occupational and public safety programs. Through his administration of the division, Howard bolstered his reputation in the field as a passionate and able leader. He received praise for successfully implementing a controversial statewide ergonomic standard. He served in this capacity for more than a decade.
Appointment
Linda RosenstockLinda Rosenstock
Linda Rosenstock is a public health specialist and administrator. She served as the director for the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health from 1994 through 2000 and has been the dean of the University of California, Los Angeles School of Public Health since 2000.-Early career:Linda...
resigned in November 2000 as the director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. The position was not filled until July 15, 2002, when Tommy Thompson
Tommy Thompson
Thomas George "Tommy" Thompson , a United States Republican politician, was the 42nd Governor of Wisconsin, after which he served as U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services. Thompson was a candidate for the 2008 U.S. Presidential Election, but dropped out early after a poor performance in polls...
, Health and Human Services
United States Department of Health and Human Services
The United States Department of Health and Human Services is a Cabinet department of the United States government with the goal of protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services. Its motto is "Improving the health, safety, and well-being of America"...
Secretary placed John Howard in the post. The gap between Rosenstock and Howard was the longest between directors in the agency's 31 year history. The appointment was immediately praised by several organizations including the American Industrial Hygiene Association
American Industrial Hygiene Association
The American Industrial Hygiene Association is a membership organization of occupational and environmental health professionals practicing industrial hygiene in industry, government, labor, academic institutions, and independent organizations....
and AFL-CIO
AFL-CIO
The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, commonly AFL–CIO, is a national trade union center, the largest federation of unions in the United States, made up of 56 national and international unions, together representing more than 11 million workers...
.
A shift in focus
Under Dr. Howard, NIOSH shifted its research efforts to focus on emerging technologies. Howard sought practical applications for the new research. This included an initiative called "research-to-practice" (r2p) to ensure that NIOSH's findings would turn into practices and products that would ultimately benefit workers. He directed research on miningMining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
, nanotechnology
Nanotechnology
Nanotechnology is the study of manipulating matter on an atomic and molecular scale. Generally, nanotechnology deals with developing materials, devices, or other structures possessing at least one dimension sized from 1 to 100 nanometres...
, job stress
Workplace stress
Workplace stress is the harmful physical and emotional response that occurs when there is a poor match between job demands and the capabilities, resources, or needs of the worker....
, and ergonomics
Ergonomics
Ergonomics is the study of designing equipment and devices that fit the human body, its movements, and its cognitive abilities.The International Ergonomics Association defines ergonomics as follows:...
. Howard summarized the adjustments the Institute needed to make:
Howard expanded the National Occupational Research Agenda
National Occupational Research Agenda
The National Occupational Research Agenda is a partnership program developed by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health . The program was founded in 1996 to provide a framework for research collaborations among universities, large and small businesses, professional societies,...
(NORA) instituted by his predecessor, Dr. Rosenstock, using it as a vehicle to work toward the Institute's updated aims.
World Trade Center responders
John Howard was appointed by President George W. BushGeorge W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
to be a special coordinator to handle the medical issues afflicting 9/11 rescue workers, specifically those at the World Trade Center site. Howard introduced the World Trade Center (WTC) Medical Monitoring and Treatment Program, which offered medical help and screening to emergency workers.
Approach
As a public health administrator, Howard was admired for his ability to collaborate effectively, even with adversarial parties. He was noted for the tone of "openness and cooperation" he set and for listening to and seeking input from all available stakeholders.Removal from NIOSH
As Dr. Howard's 6-year term approached its close, Centers for Disease Control and PreventionCenters for Disease Control and Prevention
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are a United States federal agency under the Department of Health and Human Services headquartered in Druid Hills, unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, in Greater Atlanta...
(CDC) director Julie Gerberding
Julie Gerberding
Julie Louise Gerberding, M.D., M.P.H. , is an American infectious disease expert and the former director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and administrator of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry .Gerberding led CDC's efforts to prepare for and counter terrorism...
met with him to inform him that he would not be reappointed. His term ended on July 14, 2008, in a "controversial decision that brought criticism from safety and health stakeholders". He completed his term and began serving as a temporary senior advisor to the CDC director. NIOSH associate director Christine Branche, Ph.D., served as acting director in Dr. Howard's place.
Reappointment at NIOSH
On September 3, 2009, HHS Secretary Kathleen SebeliusKathleen Sebelius
Kathleen Sebelius is an American politician currently serving as the 21st Secretary of Health and Human Services. She was the second female Governor of Kansas from 2003 to 2009, the Democratic respondent to the 2008 State of the Union address, and chair-emerita of the Democratic Governors...
announced Howard's reappointment as director of NIOSH and World Trade Center Programs coordinator for HHS.