NEWS RELEASE
MYMICHIGAN HEALTH
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SAULT STE. MARIE – Urologist Dr. James Howard will be joining the team at MyMichigan Medical Center Sault this month. Dr. Howard brings more than 30 years of experience in his field and an excitement to join the Sault community.
Howard received his education and training at Wayne State University where he was in the Phi Beta Kappa American Honor Society and the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. He spent many years living and practicing in northern Michigan but is currently working in the southern part of the state. He was notified of the opportunity by colleague and longtime friend Dr. Michael Cotant, who previously worked as a urologist at the medical center.
Before Cotant’s departure, he reached out to Howard whom he’s known since college to inform him that he was leaving. He made a recommendation and connected Dr. Howard with MyMichigan Health.
“I had a great experience at MyMichigan Medical Center Sault,” said Cotant. “The staff was phenomenal, administration great, and I loved working with my patients there. I was commuting and, unfortunately, needed to be closer to family in southern Michigan for health reasons. I just couldn’t spend so much time away from family in good conscience, but I miss the Sault community and staff. I know Dr. Howard will be a great fit there.”
Howard has extensive experience as a board-certified urologist in high-volume settings. He is a member of the American Urological Association and the Michigan Urological Surgery Improvement Collaborative and has volunteered his services in free clinics and by offering sports physical to students.
“My wife and I are happy to be moving up north to Sault Ste. Marie,” Howard said. “We spent many years in the Burt Lake and Petoskey area and really enjoyed it. I’m sure we will enjoy the Sault.”
Howard and his wife raised four children, three of whom played hockey which required traveling all across the state. They enjoy cross country and downhill skiing.
“Dr. Cotant and I have both worked for large, busy hospitals and organizations, and that has some advantages,” Howard shared. “But in a smaller community, there is a wonderful family atmosphere. You work with a closely-knit staff, and your patients are you friends and neighbors. I am really looking forward to that.”
MyMichigan Health, a non-profit health system headquartered in Midland, Michigan, is a leader in providing award-winning, high-quality care to the 26-counties it serves. With Medical Centers in Alma, Alpena, Clare, Gladwin, Midland, Mt. Pleasant, Saginaw*, Sault Ste. Marie, Standish*, Tawas*, and West Branch, MyMichigan also has affiliations with Medical Centers in St. Ignace* and Mackinac Island.* MyMichigan Health provides a full continuum of care across a wide array of settings, including urgent care centers, home health, virtual care, as well as medical offices in more than 80 specialties and subspecialties including cardiology, family medicine, hematology/oncology, neurosciences, orthopedics, pediatrics, vascular surgery, and more. MyMichigan Health demonstrates its commitment to the future of medicine by partnering with leading institutions to offer medical education programs that train medical students, physicians, nurse practitioner and physician assistant students, nursing students and other clinical experts for our region. Recognized by Forbes in 2022, 2023 and 2024 as one of ‘America’s Best Employers by State,’ MyMichigan is a major employer in all of the areas it serves. In fact, its more than 13,800 employees, volunteers, health care providers and other personnel work together to create healthy communities through solutions designed to meet the ever-changing needs of the more than one million residents in the health system’s 26 counties served. In fiscal year 2023, MyMichigan Health provided more than $128 million in community benefits, as well as supported its patients and families with new equipment, services and programs with funds raised by the MyMichigan Health Foundation, MyMichigan Medical Center Saginaw Foundation, MyMichigan Medical Center Tawas Foundation, and Field Neurosciences Institute.
*Not affiliated with the University of Michigan Health System.
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