(Story and photo courtesy of Augusta University)
The University System of Georgia Foundation recognized Dr. Charles “Charlie” Howell Jr. with the prestigious Regents’ Hall of Fame Alumni and Distinguished Friends Award at the annual Board of Regents’ Scholarship and Awards Gala on Aug. 22.
The USG Foundation’s Board of Regents’ Scholarship Gala celebrates the extraordinary achievements of public higher education in Georgia while raising funds for need-based scholarships.
A distinguished pediatric surgeon, educator and advocate, Howell is being recognized for more than four decades of service to Georgia’s children, his leadership in advancing pediatric healthcare and his enduring contributions to the Medical College of Georgia and Augusta University, where he still serves after retiring in 2018.
“Few individuals have given more of themselves to the Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University and the children of our state than Dr. Howell,” said Augusta University President Russell T. Keen. “Over a remarkable 40-year career, this proud MCG alumnus has advanced pediatric medicine, mentored generations of physicians and helped ensure that children across Georgia have access to the specialized care they deserve.”
Among Howell’s most significant accomplishments was helping bring a dedicated children’s hospital to Augusta. In the mid-1990s, pediatric patients were cared for within an adult hospital setting with limited resources designed specifically for children. Howell became a leading advocate for a dedicated pediatric facility, working alongside physicians, legislators and community leaders to build support for the project.
When what is now the Wellstar Golisano Children’s Hospital of Georgia opened in 1998, it transformed pediatric care for Augusta and communities across the state.
As professor of surgery and pediatrics at the Medical College of Georgia and surgeon-in-chief of the children’s hospital, Howell cared for thousands of children with complex medical needs during his career. He performed an estimated 16,000 pediatric surgeries and procedures while also expanding access to care by regularly traveling to underserved communities throughout Georgia to evaluate and treat patients closer to their homes.
“Charlie Howell’s impact reaches far beyond the patients he cared for, or the students and residents he taught and mentored,” said Dr. David C. Hess, MCG’s dean. “It was his vision, determination and unwavering commitment to children and families that helped reshape pediatric care in Georgia. Generations of physicians, caregivers and families have benefited from his leadership, his compassion, and his belief that every child deserves access to exceptional care, no matter where they live.”
His commitment to children and families is also reflected in his philanthropic leadership. Howell played a key role in relocating the Ronald McDonald House of Augusta to a site adjacent to the children’s hospital, helping families remain close to their children during treatment. He has also provided generous support to Augusta University, the Medical College of Georgia, the children’s hospital and the Ronald McDonald House.
Last fall, the lobby of the Wellstar Golisano Children’s Hospital of Georgia was named in Howell’s honor, recognizing a lifetime dedicated to improving the lives of children and families across the state.
“Dr. Howell embodies the very spirit of the Regents’ Hall of Fame Alumni and Distinguished Friends Award,” Keen said. “Through his clinical service, advocacy, mentorship and philanthropy, he has strengthened Augusta University, the Medical College of Georgia and the University System of Georgia. His legacy lives on in the children he cared for, the physicians he trained and the institutions he helped build.”
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