John

As a former health care executive and health system general counsel, John Howard has a unique perspective on the types of legal counsel health care organizations need to advance their business strategies and achieve their goals. He has advised health care organizations, from large health systems to independent physician practices and networks, on ways to address practical issues, adapt to a changing environment, and create meaningful change in their organizations.

John advises health systems, large physician groups, health plans, and health care executives on regulatory, transactional, and organizational issues, drawing on his own experiences as a health care executive to counsel clients on strategic planning, hospital-physician alignment, population health initiatives, and fiduciary board engagement.

In addition to his previous work as general counsel for health systems, John served as senior vice president and chief operating officer of the physician network at a large health care system in North Carolina with more than 4,500 providers and as CEO of a physician group associated with a Tennessee health system. Those roles included helping to manage the business through a pandemic crisis and working on significant acquisition and reorganization initiatives, including the reorganization of a physician network that received national recognition from the American Medical Group Association. As part of this work, and as outside counsel, John has also had executive responsibility for leading multiple accountable care organizations, from early development to expansion and performance improvement.

With his training in mediation and his diverse legal and business experience, John approaches each matter with an open mind and a keen eye for how a health care organization can derive benefit from new strategies and innovative opportunities. His collaborative approach combines strategy and structure to help clients determine where they want to go and the best way to get there.