John Howe, DVM
AVMA Immediate Past President 2020-2021
AVMA Officers
Biographical Sketch
Dr. John Howe is a 1977 graduate of the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. After graduation, Dr. Howe started a solo mixed-animal practice in North Branch, Minnesota. In 1984, he sold the practice and moved to Grand Rapids, Minnesota. There, he established North Country Equine and Large Animal Medical Center, which evolved into North Country Veterinary Clinic, a five-doctor mixed-animal practice treating large and small animals, birds, exotics, cervidae, aquaculture, and some large cats. In addition to wellness programs, services provided include orthopedics, laser surgery, dentistry, and ultrasound. North Country Veterinary Clinic became a part of National Veterinary Associates in 2007, and Dr. Howe currently manages the practice.
Between 1992 and 1999, he served two governor-appointed terms on the Minnesota Board of Animal Health, and was board president from 1996–1999. He is a past member of the Minnesota Veterinary Reserve Corps Advisory Committee. He is also a past secretary, treasurer, and president of the Arrowhead Veterinary Medical Association. Dr. Howe served as an Executive Board member and vice president of the Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association, and in 2007, served as president. He received the Minnesota VMA Veterinarian of the Year Award in 2011 and its Distinguished Veterinary Service Award in 2015. His active role in the Minnesota VMA has included membership on the Governmental Affairs Committee, and he served as chair of the Aquatic Livestock Committee.
In addition to his involvement in the Minnesota VMA, Dr. Howe has also been an active member of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and is a member of the American Association of Equine Practitioners, World Aquatic Veterinary Medicine Association, and American Association of Fish Veterinarians.
He served as AVMA president from 2019-2020, AVMA president-elect from 2018-2019, and represented District VII on the AVMA Board of Directors from 2012-2018. During his service on the AVMA Board, Dr. Howe served as chair of the State Advocacy Committee and Diversity and Inclusion Committee, and was Board liaison to the Council on Veterinary Service; Governance Performance Review Committee; Aquatic Veterinary Medicine Committee; Committee on Disaster and Emergency Issues; the Insurance Liaison Committee; Council on Biologic and Therapeutic Agents; Clinical Practitioners Advisory Committee; AVMA/NAVTA Joint Committee; Nominations Committee; Council on Public Health and Regulatory Veterinary Medicine; Food Safety Advisory Committee; Board Subcommittee on AVMA Compensation; Budget, Finance and Review Committee; and Advocacy and Public Policy Review Committee. In addition, he was Board liaison to the American Association of Equine Practitioners and the American Association of Swine Veterinarians.
He also served as vice chair of the AVMA Council on Veterinary Services and Governance Performance Review Committee, and has filled in as a delegate or alternate delegate whenever someone was unable to attend the meeting from Minnesota.
Dr. Howe is a member of his local chamber of commerce. He was extensively involved with the teen ministry at his local church, where he also serves as a deacon. He has been affiliated with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources as a bow hunter safety education instructor and an archery instructor for the Cub Scouts. He has also served as Board chair for the Minnesota Shooting Sports Education Center, a training center for the U.S. Biathlon and Junior Olympic shooters.
Dr. Howe, his wife, Diane, and their children raised and showed Appaloosa horses. His hobbies include scuba diving, fishing, hunting, shooting sports competitions, and snowmobiling. Dr. Howe and Diane have been married for more than 47 years, and they have three children (one of whom died during surgery in 2015) and five grandchildren.