Dr. Willson named Physician of the Year

On Jan. 13, Dr. Howard Willson was honored as Wyoming’s 2018 Physician of the Year by the Wyoming Medical Society. Willson was recognized during a ceremony in Jackson.

According to a tribute from Senator John Barrasso in the Congressional Record on Jan. 11, Willson worked tirelessly during his medical career to improve healthcare in Wyoming. His contributions in medical education, quality improvement and public health touched countless patients. Outside medicine, he served Wyoming as a member of the University of Wyoming’s board of trustees and as an officer in the United States Air Force.

In addition to professional accomplishments, people in Thermopolis and Basin know Willson as their family doctor. Multiple generations of patients benefitted from his caring and compassionate approach to medicine.

Though his biggest impact was in Wyoming, Willson was born in Spring Lake, Fla. After completing his undergraduate degree from Florida State University, he was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Air Force. He then attended medical school at the University of Florida and graduated in 1965, and went on to complete his internship at the U.S. Air Force Hospital at Andrews Air Force Base. He served a total 10 years with the Air Force, rising to the rank of captain.

Over the next several years, Willson practiced medicine in Florida, where he was an active member of the medical community. In 1976, he decided to move to Wyoming. He began his practice in Basin and eventually moved to Thermopolis.

He quickly became active in the county’s medical society and the Wyoming Medical Society, later becoming the Society’s president in 1986. He was also an active medical staff leader at South Big Horn County Hospital and Hot Springs County Memorial Hospital.

Willson was also passionate about training the next generation of Wyoming healthcare providers. He wanted to introduce medical students to the rewards of working in rural communities and was an active preceptor in the Wyoming Family Practice program for more than 20 years.

Today, medical students still benefit from Willson’s passion for medical education as he was vital in bringing the Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, Idaho (WWAMI) medical education program to Wyoming. The program allows students from the five states to attend medical school at the University of Washington. Wyoming joined the program in 1996. Professor Joe Steiner, former dean of the University of Wyoming’s College of Health Sciences, said, “Howard Willson was instrumental in bringing WWAMI to Wyoming. He was also a strong supporter of all health care professions and was eager to share his knowledge with students.”

Willson was also passionate about improving the quality of healthcare received by Wyoming patients. He served as medical director of Mountain-Pacific Quality Health Foundation-Wyoming. The organization is dedicated to working with Medicare to lower costs and improve quality of healthcare. In particular, he understood achieving this goal meant serving as a partner with providers and healthcare facilities. It was through this that virtually all patients in Wyoming were helped by Willson’s work, even though they never knew it.

Willson also knew the importance of public health in keeping people well. He served as public health officer for Hot Springs County beginning in 2004. The board accepted his resignation in 2016.

Outside medicine, Willson was involved in the local communities in which he lived. The Governor of Wyoming appointed him to the University of Wyoming’s board of trustees. He served the university of distinction from 2003 to 2015.