MEMPHIS, Tenn. — She’s played a critical role in the response to the coronavirus in the Mid-South.
Dr. Cassandra Howard stays busy.
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“I like the excitement and the variety of challenges we face,” Howard said.
“Lately, our days have been heavily consumed by COVID planning and strategic adjustments to whatever the needs are,” she said.
Dr. Howard is the Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at Methodist Le Bonheur Germantown Hospital.
In addition to that role, she has another important job.
She is also a member of the United States Air Force.
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With more than 30 years of experience in the military, Howard is now a Brigadier General; a title only held by a handful of black women.
“If you were to walk through the Pentagon with me or any of our other military agencies, you wouldn’t see a lot of African American women,” Howard said.
“But I will say it’s getting better. We’re mentoring one another. We’re being mentored by others.”
She attributes much of her success to understanding her history.
“The importance of education,” Howard said.
“The importance of working hard and doing your best. The importance of integrity. That is what Black History means to me. It’s my family. It’s those that I’ve seen work hard.”
FOX13′s Lauren Coleman asked Howard what advice she would give to young girls or young people who may want to go into medicine or the military.
“I would say follow your dreams,” Howard said.
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“Anyone who knows me will tell you I’m a dreamer. You know my mom would tell you that I claimed this probably 30 years ago. Didn’t know how I was going to do it. Didn’t know what it would look like. Don’t doubt yourself. Don’t count yourself out.”
Howard is originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
ALL MONTH LONG, FOX13 WILL BE CELEBRATING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF AFRICAN AMERICANS. WE HAVE AN ENTIRE SECTION DEDICATED TO THEIR STORIES. CLICK HERE FOR MORE.
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