Dr. James Howard, MD, MS, FACEP

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Get to know Emergency Physician Dr. James Howard who serves patients in Encinitas, California.

As a board certified emergency physician and general practitioner, Dr. Howard stands as one of the original founders of Healthtopia, currently serving as its Chief Operating Officer.

Located in Encinitas, California, Healthtopia is a unique, integrative urgent care center with a mission to enhance the health and wellbeing of every individual in San Diego. They aim to achieve this through a transformative healthcare model that incorporates both conventional and naturopathic medical and wellness services.

Within his role, Dr. Howard collaborates closely with naturopathic doctors and various ancillary practices, such as functional neurology and physical therapy, to ensure that patients receive the most current and effective care tailored to their specific needs. His primary focus is on providing accessible, high-quality care without the cost barriers associated with concierge practices. 

Driven by a commitment to personal and timely service, Dr. Howard values getting to know his patients on a profound level. His innate ability to connect with people and support them throughout their life journey underscores his dedication to delivering exceptional and personalized healthcare.

At the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine, Dr. Howard graduated with his Master of Science Degree in Oncology and Cancer Biology and his Doctor of Medicine Degree in 2004 and 2007, respectively. He then went on to perform his residency in emergency medicine at the University of California (Irvine) from 2008-2011, where he served as chief resident. 

In addition to being a Fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians (FACEP), Dr. Howard is recognized as a Diplomate of the American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM). The ABEM certifies emergency physicians who meet its educational, professional, and examination standards.

Emergency medicine, also known as accident and emergency medicine, is the medical specialty concerned with the care of illnesses or injuries requiring immediate medical attention. An emergency physician is a physician who works at an emergency department to care for acutely ill or injured patients. They care for unscheduled and undifferentiated patients of all ages.

Crediting his success to reimagining the healthcare system, Dr. Howard has a variety of experience with healthcare transformation, health services research, emergency medical services, disaster preparedness, aeromedical retrievals, as well as emergency and general medical practice.

Among his philanthropic endeavors include consulting for West Health Institute to help lower costs of healthcare and also enable seniors to age in place with dignity and access to high quality health care and support services.

In his free time, Dr. Howard enjoys spending time with his family, engaging in endurance and water sports (surfing, running Triathlons), camping, hiking, cooking, and listening to music.

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