Dr. Steven Howells
Assistant professor
Discipline of Anesthesia
Dr. Steven Howells finished his residency in anesthesia at Memorial in 1996, and now he's back as a faculty member. He earned his medical degree from Dalhousie in 1990 and after a year's internship worked in the Yukon for a year as a general practitioner.
Following an
interest in anesthesia developed during medical school, he came to Memorial for four years
of postgraduate training. "I find the physiology and pharmacology related to
anesthesia very interesting, especially with its practical hands-on application in the
operation room." he explained. Memorial was a natural choice because by that time he
was married to a Newfoundlander.
After finishing his residency, Dr. Howells worked in Sydney, N.S. for a year and then went to the Ottawa Heart Institute on a one-year fellowship in cardiac anesthesia. Part of his specialty training is in transesophageal echocardiography, whereby the heart is viewed through the esophagus while the patient is asleep. Dr. Howells said this procedure is becoming more common in heart operations because visualization of the heart provides superior monitoring capabilities for detecting ischemia and guiding volume and inotropic therapy. It is also of value to assess valve repairs while in the operating room.
Dr. Howells notes that the General Hospital does not yet have an echocardiograph in the operating room, and looks forward to one being obtained.
When he's not on the job, Dr. Howells finds himself busy with his family, which includes a four-year old daughter and a new baby boy. He also relaxes by playing trombone in a jazz band when he finds the time
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