Doris A. Howell, MD
Director Emerita
The Institute for Palliative Medicine at San Diego Hospice
4311 Third Avenue
San Diego, CA, USA 92103-1407
Doris A. Howell, MD, is a Director, Emerita at San Diego Hospice and The Institute for Palliative Medicine (SDHIPM), a teaching affiliate of the University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine. She serves on the Mission Effectiveness, Executive and Develop Committees of the Board of Directors.
Doris is Professor Pediatrics, Emerita, and a retired Chair of the Department of Family & Preventative Medicine, University of California, San Diego.
Doris continues to be active with a number of community and national agencies and foundations. She serves as Honorary Chair of the Doris A. Howell Foundation for Research in Women's Health.
Doris received a BA degree from Park College, Parkville, Missouri in 1944, and a MD degree from McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada in 1949. After completing an internship at Children's Memorial Hospital, Montreal, Canada, she completed a residency in pediatrics at Duke University Hospital, Durham, North Carolina, and a fellowship in pediatric hematology at Children's Medical Center, Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts.
Doris is board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics.
Doris A. Howell has served continuously on the Board of Directors of San Diego Hospice and The Institute for Palliative Medicine since 1977. Specializing in pediatric hematology and oncology, Dr. Howell was introduced to the hospice concept in 1968, embracing this radical departure from the established way of dealing with the dying and their families. Her reputation as a pioneer followed her when she moved to San Diego in 1976 to teach at UCSD’s School of Medicine. Approached by a local group that wanted to bring hospice care to the San Diego community, she became the driving force—dispelling doubts in the medical community and raising public awareness—which made San Diego Hospice a reality in 1977.
The San Diego Union-Tribune dubbed Dr. Howell “Dr. TLC” in a Feb. 15, 1996 article, for her work in end-of-life care and her role in establishing San Diego Hospice. She has been honored with numerous awards including “The Doris A. Howell Trust for Pediatric Hospice” awarded by the Sol and Helen Price Family Trust in San Diego (1990), Soroptimist International of La Jolla’s “Woman of Distinction Award” for Health (1992), American Academy of Pediatrics’ “Job Lewis Smith Award” (1994), “Dr. James C. MacLaggan Award” from the Rotary of San Diego (1994), “Woman of Dedication Award” from the Salvation Army (1994), ElderHelp of San Diego’s “Essence of Life Award” (1998) and the United Way/CHAD’s “Health Hero Award” (1999-2000).