Lori J. Howell’s Death: Former Director at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Sadly Passed Away

Lori J. Howell, a promising clinical innovator and Former Executive Director of Richard D. Wood Jr. Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment at Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia, has sadly passed away. The departure of a renowned healthcare member has shattered the community, leaving behind the legacy of an innovative healthcare system.

Lori. J. Howell passed away on January 19, 2024, after her long battle with ovarian cancer. She died surrounded by her family members. The news of her death was announced by the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia page, in which they paid their heartfelt condolences to her and stated her exceptional contribution to the health sector.

About Lori J. Howell

Lori J. Howell was an incredible healthcare member who possessed the role of RN, DNP, MS, clinical innovator, and Former Executive Director for Richard D. Wood Jr. Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment at Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia. Lori J. Howell went to the Intercollegiate Center for Nursing Education at Washington State University, where she earned her degree in nursing and later got her Master of Science in parent/child nursing at UCSF. She later went to Villanova University College of Nursing, earning her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree.

Lori J. Howell’s extensive academic career earned her a remarkable career. She was associated with providing the best care to those bearing birth defects for more than 40 years. She served as the first fetal surgery coordinator for the nascent fetal program at the University of California, San Francisco. Then, in 1955, she cofounded a fetal diagnosis and treatment program to provide advancement in the field of fetal treatment.

Lori J. Howell gave 27 years to CHOP, where she transitioned the fetal therapy program to the world’s largest and most comprehensive program of the world. Lori J. Howell made a stellar team by actively recruiting new and innovative talent. She established an innovative patient care approach and provided extensive education. She set the gold standard of thorough, innovative research approaches and long-term follow-up to provide adequate fetal medicines.

In 1997, she founded CHOP’s annual fetal Family Reunion, a celebration that occurred each day for families of fetal programs. In 2008, she changed her vision into reality by opening CHOP’s Garbose Family Special Unit, which was the first birth defect facility in the world specifically designed for healthy mothers carrying their babies with birth defects.

Lori was also a co-investigator in many clinical research studies, including the National Institutes of Health’s Management of Myelomeningocele study. Lori was an exceptional leader and mentor to many individuals in the health sector and provided widespread recognition due to innovative approaches to fetal birth defects.