Dr. John Howard has announced his retirement after 40 years as a physician and even longer in the medical field. His long-time business partner and nurse practitioner, Brian Payne, has purchased the practice and looks forward to continuing the same high level of care.
Howard’s first taste of the medical field came when he was 18, working as an orderly at the hospital. Times were slightly different then, and Howard said he could provide various services to patients in the role that would likely span several job titles in today’s settings.
“It’s how I really got started and learned how to take care of patients,” Howard said. “I spent most of my time there working my way through college. I learned to do what the doctors asked. We even had to act as security guards several times because there was no security at the time.”
As a Utica native, Howard graduated from Daviess County before attending Western Kentucky University and eventually Brescia for his undergraduate studies. He lost his little sister to a car wreck when he was a senior, dampening his outlook on life and his family’s finances.
“I was depressed and really struggled in undergrad,” he said. “I came home and went to Brescia and kept working my way through college because we didn’t have any money after the car wreck.”
Howard applied twice to medical school at the University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville, only making it to the alternate list. Finally, on his third try, he got in.
“I was accepted into both schools within 12 hours. I was 25 when I got in,” he said. “I was so motivated I was able to finish my residency eight months early.”
After returning home in 1988, he began his career in the emergency room as part of a private contractor team.
“I spent 13 years, 13 days, and 13 hours there, and we were bad a**,” he said. “We were the busiest ER in the state and constantly ranked the best in mortality and morbidity rates. We had a bunch of good doctors and nurses. I’m proud of that time. We saw a lot of stuff I wish we wouldn’t have, but we saved a bunch of people’s lives.”
At the same emergency department, he encountered Brian Payne and realized he possessed a similar approach to medicine. The two wasted little time venturing out and purchased Dr. Scott’s old office in Livermore.
“Brian was smart, good, aggressive, and he knew what he was doing,” Howard said. “There were several nurses and doctors I could have worked with or went into business with, but I knew he had what it took.”
In 2000, they bought Dr. Green’s office on Triplett Street and somehow managed to work part-time in the emergency room while managing both practices.
Payne recalled hanging drop ceilings and painting the walls in the old Livermore office, which, when they purchased it, only had an old teacher desk.
“I bet we saw over 100 patients a day in the Livermore office,” Payne said. “We added an X-ray machine, lab, and more.”
After running both places for several years, they eventually closed the Livermore practice and moved their Tripplett Street office to the brand new state-of-the-art Springs Health Center on KY 54 in 2002.
“We thought it was Heaven. It was big and brand new,” Payne said. “Dr. Howard and I have worked side by side for years. He’s taught me a ton and prepared me for this. We will continue to offer John Howard-like care to our patients.”
Payne and Howard said their motive has always been to treat patients like friends and family. They also depend on a dedicated staff, many of whom have been there for several decades.
“We like to speak to them on their level and loosen things up to a point where they look forward to coming,” Howard said. “It’s like a big extended family. I truly believe if it weren’t such a hassle with insurance and the paperwork, they would look forward to coming and seeing us.”
The two also brought on Christopher Howell, another nurse practitioner who has been with the practice for nearly four years. Howell served a rotation at the clinic and immediately caught Payne and Howard’s attention.
Howard said his interest and curiosity made it clear he had a future in the practice.
Howell knew it was where he wanted to be.
“Any patient that wants to stay on, or if someone is looking for a primary care provider, we would be happy to take them,” Howell said. “These two will brag on me, but they truly practice what they preach. I did several rotations in Nashville and I wasn’t happy with the level of care. This place has been a breath of fresh air.”
Between Payne, Howell, and the staff, Howard said the office was a well-oiled machine.
“I retired because I could,” he said. “These guys are more than good enough to turn my patients over to, and I feel good about the direction the practice is going.”
