Jean Howard

Jean Howard of Traverse City, Michigan is currently serving as the Immediate Past President of the American Medical Association Alliance.

Howard previously served at the National level as President, President-Elect, Treasurer, Finance Committee Chair, Secretary, Bylaws Committee member, HAP Award Selection Committee Chair, Field Director, Membership Committee Chair, Finance Committee member, Membership Committee member, and Election Committee member. Howard has been on the Michigan State Medical Society Alliance Board for 18 years, serving as the president in 1995-1996. She has also been president and chair of many committees for the Grand Traverse-Leelanau-Benzie County Alliance. She began her Alliance career in 1965 when she joined the WASAMA (Women’s Auxiliary to the Student American Medical Association) and served as Vice President of the University of Michigan WASAMA group.

In addition to her Alliance activities currently serves on the Munson Healthcare Board of Directors, the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation ACE Fund Advisory Board, as Vice-President of the Women’s Resource Center Board of Directors, Co-Chairman of the Women’s Giving Circle of Traverse City, and Co-Treasurer of the Women’s Investment Club. Howard is past chair of the Northwestern Michigan College Foundation Board of Directors and she was involved in the political arena by serving for eight years on the Traverse City Area Public Schools Board of Education (three of those years serving as President or Vice President) and running for the Michigan State House of Representatives. Howard has also been active in the First Congregational Church, serving on the Board of Trustees and as President of Women’s Fellowship. She is a graduate of Leadership Grand Traverse, served on the LGT Executive Committee, and is a past board member of the Grand Traverse League of Women Voters. She also worked for 10 years as a part-time assistant bookkeeper at the Milliken Medical Building.

Howard holds a Bachelors degree in Elementary Education from Eastern Michigan University and taught Kindergarten for several years in Wayne, Michigan. She is married to William Howard, an Internal Medicine Specialist and the couple has 3 children and 5 grandchildren.