2025 Outstanding Alumnus Award Winner
John Howington, MD, MBA, FCCP, FACS is a practicing thoracic surgeon currently at Virginia
Mason Franciscan Health, St. Michael Medical Center in Silverdale, Washington.
Dr. Howington received his undergraduate degree from Tennessee Technological University and medical degree from the University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center. He completed his general surgery residency at the University of Missouri, Kansas City and thoracic surgery residency at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Most recently, he received his Physician Executive MBA from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
Dr. Howington has participated and published more than 50 research publications and guidelines, numerous book chapters, and has presented hundreds of lectures internationally. As a passionate thoracic surgeon, he has lent his knowledge to the extensive CHEST lung cancer guideline portfolio for more than a decade. He offer regular leadership in multidisciplinary and executive forums and has spearheaded a series of quality improvement initiatives at his previous institutions. He has served in a variety of leadership roles with CHEST and with other national thoracic surgery societies.
Dr. Howington began his CHEST leadership journey with the Networks, as a member of the International Chest Medicine Steering Committee and then as Thoracic Oncology Network Chair (2008-2010). Other leadership positions include serving as the President of the CHEST Foundation (2014-2016), Member of the Scientific Program Committee, Membership Committee, and, most recently, as the Chair of the Finance Committee from 2018-2021. Since 2017, he has served on the Board of Regents.
Dr. Howington serves as the 87th President of the American College of Chest Physicians.
View Past Medicine Award Winners