Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Fred M. Howard, Jr., M.D., M.S.

Dr. Howard is Associate Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Director of the Division of Obstetric/Gynecologic Specialties, and Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology. He earned his bachelors degree at Berea College in 1969, his masters degree at Purdue University in 1972, and his medical degree at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in 1976. He completed his residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Fitzsimons Army Medical Center in Colorado and served as a Major in the U.S. Army Medical Corps in Georgia and South Carolina. Dr. Howard was in private practice and on the faculties of the University of South Carolina Medical School and Medical University of South Carolina before moving to Rochester in 1991. He was Chief of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Rochester General Hospital, where he established the first center in upstate New York dedicated to the treatment of endometriosis and pelvic pain, prior to becoming a Division Director at Strong Memorial Hospital in May, 2000.

Dr. Howard is an internationally-recognized expert on chronic pelvic pain in women, and is senior editor of the textbook Pelvic Pain: Diagnosis and Management, published by Lippincott, Williams, and Wilkins. He is the author of numerous scientific papers on pelvic pain, endometriosis, and laparoscopic surgery. In collaborative research with his wife he has also co-authored scientific papers on breastfeeding and neonatal circumcision. His current primary areas of research interest are in gynecologic laparoscopic surgery, chronic pelvic pain, and bleeding disorders in women.

Dr. Howard is certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, is a Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and holds Certification in Advanced Operative Laparoscopy and Advanced Operative Hysteroscopy by the Accreditation Council for Gynecologic Endoscopy. He is active on the board of directors of the International Pelvic Pain Society where he has served as president and vice president. He is on the Advisory Board of the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists.

Dr. Howard has received a number of honors and awards. He was awarded a National Faculty Award for Excellence in Resident Education in 1999 by the Council on Resident Education in Obstetrics and Gynecology. He received the Excellence in Teaching Award from Rochester General Hospital Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency each year from 1995 to 2000. He was awarded the Association of Professors in Gynecology and Obstetrics APGO Excellence in Teaching Award in 1993. He received the Residents' Teaching Award from the department of Obstetrics ad Gynecology at the University of Rochester in 1992 and 1993. He is a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society.

Dr. Howard's practice is primarily a referral practice for the care of women with chronic pelvic pain or endometriosis, and for advanced operative laparoscopic surgery.

Current areas of interest:
Gynecologic laparoscopic surgery, chronic pelvic pain, and bleeding disorders in women.

How to contact Dr. Howard:
E-Mail Address: Fred_Howard@urmc.rochester.edu
Link to: Strong Health

Current research and publications:

Howard FM. Chronic Pelvic Pain in Women. Amer J Managed Care 2001;7:1001-13.
Howard FM. Gynecologic Pain. In: Handbook of Pain Management, 3rd Edition. CD Tollison, JR Satterthwaite, JW Tollison, eds. Lippincott, Williams, and Wilkins: Philadelphia, 2001, pp 459-93.
Howard FM. An evidence-based medicine approach to treatment of endometriosis-associated chronic pelvic pain. J Amer Assoc Gynecol Laparosc 2000;7: 477-88.
Wrigley LC, Howard FM, Gabel D. Transcervical compared with intraperitoneal preemptive anesthesia for laparoscopic tubal sterilization: a randomized control trial. Obstet Gynecol 2000; 96: 895-8.
Howard FM, El-Minawi AM, Sanchez RA. Conscious pain mapping by laparoscopy in women with chronic pelvic pain. Obstet Gynecol 2000; 96: 934-9.
Kouides PA, Phatak PD, Burkart P, Braggins C, Cox C, Bernstein Z, Belling L, Holmberg P, Maclaughlin W, and Howard F. Gynaecological and obstetrical morbidity in women with type I von Willebrand disease: results of a patient survey. Haemophilia 2000; 6: 643-8.
Howard CR, Howard FM, Lawrence R, Andresen E, deBlieck E, Weitzman M. Office prenatal formula advertising and its effect on breast-feeding patterns. Obstet Gynecol 2000;95:296-303.
Howard FM. The role of laparoscopy as a diagnostic tool in chronic pelvic pain. Bailliere's Best Practice & Research in Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecology 2000;14:467-94.
Howard FM. Adhesiolysis for pain relief. Operative Techniques in Gynecologic Surgery 2000;5(1):3-12.
Howard CR, Howard FM, Fortune K, Generelli P, Zolnoun D, tenHoopen C, deBlieck E. A randomized, controlled trial of a eutectic mixture of local anesthetic cream (lidocaine and prilocaine) versus penile nerve block for pain relief during circumcision. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1999;181:1506-11.
El-Minawi A, Howard FM. Operative laparoscopic treatment of ovarian retention syndrome. J Am Assoc Gynecol Laparosc 1999 6(3):297-302.
Howard CR, Howard FM, Lanphear B, deBlieck EA, Eberly S, Lawrence RA. The effects of early pacifier use on breastfeeding duration. Pediatrics 1999 Mar;103:e33.
Dolan JG, Howard FM. A survey of gynecologists' attitudes regarding decision making in the management of non-cancerous conditions that frequently result in hysterectomy. Med Decis Making 1999;19:186-192.
Howard CR, de Blieck E, tenHoopen C, Howard FM, Lanphear B. A, Lawrence R. Physiologic Stability of Newborns During Cup- and Bottle-feeding. Pediatrics 1999;104:1204-1207.
Howard CR, Howard FM, Garfunkel LC, de Blieck EA, Weitzman M. Neonatal circumcision and pain relief: current training practices. Pediatrics 1998 Mar;101(3):423-8.
Hernandez C, Howard FM. Management of tubal prolapse after hysterectomy. J Am Assoc Gynecol Laparosc 1998 Feb;5(1):59-62.
Howard FM, Leppert PC. Reaction of residents to a teaching collaborative practice. J Nurse-Midwifery 43:1 January/February 1998.
Howard FM. Laparoscopic lateral ovarian transposition before radiation treatment of Hodgkin disease. J Am Assoc Gynecol Laparosc 1997 4(5):601-604.
Howard FM, El-Minawi AM, DeLoach VE. Direct laparoscopic cannula insertion at the left upper quadrant. J Am Assoc Gynecol Laparosc 1997 4(5):595-600.
Leppert PC, Howard FM. Residents and nonphysician health care providers. Academic Medicine 1997 Mar;72:3;161-2.
Howard FM, The role of laparoscopy in the evaluation of chronic pelvic pain: pitfalls with a negative laparoscopy. J Am Assoc Gynecol Laparosc 1996; 4:1,85-94.
Howard FM. Surgical management of patients with benign cystic teratoma: laparoscopy versus laparotomy. J Reprod Med 1995;40:495-9.
Howard CR, Howard FM, Weitzman ML. Acetaminophen analgesia in neonatal circumcision: the effect on pain. Pediatrics 1994;93:641-46.
Howard CR, Howard FM, Weitzman ML. Infant formula distribution and advertising in pregnancy: a hospital survey. Birth 1994;21:14-9.
Howard FM. Laparoscopic evaluation and treatment of women with chronic pelvic pain. J Am Assoc Gynecol Laparosc 1994;1:325-31.
Howard FM, Sweeney TR. Omental herniation after operative laparoscopy. J Reprod Med 1994;39:415-6.
Parker WH, Levine RL, Howard FM, Sansone B, Berek JS. Laparoscopic management of selected cystic adnexal masses in postmenopausal women: a multicentered study. J Am Coll Surgeons 1994;179:733-7.
Howard FM, Vill M. Laparoscopic adnexal surgery during pregnancy: a report of two cases J Am Assoc Gynecol Laparosc 1994;2:91-3.
Howard FM, Howard CR, Weitzman M. The physician as advertiser: the unintentional discouragement of breastfeeding. Obstet Gynecol 1993;81:1048-51.
Howard FM, Sanchez R. A comparison of laparoscopically-assisted vaginal hysterectomy and abdominal hysterectomy. J Gynecol Surg 1993;9:83-90.
Howard FM. The role of laparoscopy in chronic pelvic pain: promise and pitfalls. Obstet Gynecol Survey 1993;48:357-87.
Howard FM. Breaking new ground or just digging a hole? An evaluation of gynecologic operative laparoscopy. J Gynecol Surg 1992;8:143-58.