John A. Howington, MD, MBA, FCCP, is a cardiothoracic surgeon currently serving as Chief of Oncology Services and Chair of Thoracic Surgery at Ascension Saint Thomas Health and a professor at the University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center in Nashville, Tennessee.
Dr. Howington received his undergraduate degree from Tennessee Technological University and medical degree from the University of Tennessee. He completed his general surgery residency at the University of Missouri, Kansas City and thoracic surgery residency at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
Dr. John A. Howington
Most recently, he received his Physician Executive MBA from the University of Tennessee.
As a passionate thoracic surgeon, he has lent his knowledge to the extensive CHEST lung cancer guideline portfolio for more than a decade. He offers regular leadership in multidisciplinary and executive forums and has spearheaded a series of quality improvement initiatives at Ascension. He has served in a variety of leadership roles with CHEST and with other national thoracic surgery societies.
Dr. Howington began his CHEST leadership journey with the Networks, as a member of the Interventional Chest Medicine Steering Committee and then as the Thoracic Oncology Network Chair (2008-2010).
Other leadership positions include serving as the President of the CHEST Foundation (2014-2016), member of the Scientific Program Committee and Membership Committee, and, recently, as the Chair of the Finance Committee from 2018-2021.
Since 2017, he has served on the Board of Regents as a Member at Large. Dr. Howington will serve as the 87th CHEST President in 2025.