Surprise Retirement Gift

By Clémentine Sicard

Howell Grad with Daughter

When the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine’s chair Dr. Lydia Howell retired in 2023, her husband made a surprise announcement: The couple were creating an endowed chair at the UC Davis School of Medicine in her name.

“It’s the perfect gift for me—and for our school,” said Lydia Howell. “I’ve spent my whole career at UC Davis, and I feel so much gratitude and loyalty. It’s nice to know that through this gift, the wonderful experiences available to me as a faculty member and chair can continue to grow and become even better for others.”

Dr. Stephen Howell announced the Lydia Pleotis Howell M.D. Endowed Chair in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine to the guest of honor, family and friends at her retirement party.

The chair honors Lydia Howell’s 13 years of commitment as the department’s leader and her 37 years on the faculty. Established through a $2 million estate gift, this endowment ensures Howell’s legacy will continue. The gift will provide funding for faculty and academic programs in pathology and laboratory medicine, including education, research and clinical care.

Lydia Howell was the first woman to serve as chair of her department. She is recognized for improving methods and protocols for prevention, diagnosis and treatment of breast and cervical cancer, as well as advocating for women’s careers in medicine and science.

“I’ve always cared about growing careers for our faculty and bringing opportunities to others, just as I had opportunities made available to me,” she said. “It was important to direct our money to something that we really care about and that reflects our values.”

Howell Retirement with Family

A planned gift was the right decision for the Howells, who hope to inspire others to do the same.

“Being a department chair isn’t easy. There are never enough resources to do everything you want to do,” said Lydia Howell.

“The endowed chair is a core resource that will live on in perpetuity to help the department move forward and shape the future of academic pathology,” she added.

Their gift supports UC Davis’ comprehensive fundraising campaign, Expect Greater: From UC Davis, For the World, the largest philanthropic endeavor in university history. Together, donors and UC Davis are advancing work to prepare future leaders, sustain healthier communities and bring innovative solutions to today's most urgent challenges.

Inspiring Career

The Howells met as medical school students at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, Illinois.

The couple moved to California after their residencies when Stephen Howell, who attended medical school on an Air Force scholarship, was assigned to the Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield.

Lydia Howell was eight months pregnant at the time and her mentors warned that it could be hard to find a position. She applied for an opening at the School of Medicine. The position was initially for a one-year contract—but she went on to have an illustrious 37-year career with UC Davis.

“UC Davis gave me a chance when a lot of other places wouldn't have and provided so many opportunities to grow,” she said.

Stephen Howell is also affiliated with UC Davis, as an adjunct professor of biomedical engineering. He is an orthopedic surgeon with Adventist Health in Lodi and specializes in total knee replacement. An inventor of surgical devices and techniques, Stephen Howell is well-known for developing the kinematic alignment approach for total knee replacement.

Stephen and Lydia Howell at their Graduation

During Lydia Howell’s tenure as chair from 2010-23, the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine grew from approximately 30 to nearly 50 faculty members, and is nationally recognized in clinical service, research and education.

Since 2010, the department’s national ranking for funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has climbed, leading to their current ranking of #34 in 2023, a rise of over 30 ranks.

“I’m very proud of how much our department has grown during the time that I was chair, and that’s thanks to the great work of our faculty,” she said.

She also served as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at UC Davis Health and as President of the American Society of Cytopathology who later recognized her with their highest honor, the Papanicolaou Award.

Howell recently finished a two-year term as President of the Association of Pathology Chairs (APC). Since retiring, she has become the first deputy director of the APC, a non-profit society that serves as the voice of academic departments in pathology in the U.S. and Canada. The APC is recognizing Howell with their Distinguished Service Award in July 2024.

“UC Davis has been an inspiring place to work. What makes it unique is that it’s such a welcoming place and cares about serving all people,” she said.

Family Tradition Continues

Lydia Howell’s father, Peter Pleotis, was a first-generation college student and physician who came from a family of Greek immigrants. His career inspired not only his daughter but his granddaughter too: the Howells’ daughter Stacey earned her M.D. from the School of Medicine in 2015 and is now a cardiac electrophysiologist in Southern California.

After Pleotis passed away in 2013, the Howells set up a scholarship in his name for students at the UC Davis School of Medicine. From the scholarship to the endowed chair, their commitment as donors will make an impact for many generations to come.

“Just as my father inspired our family and others who knew him, our students and trainees will inspire their children and communities,” she said. “Thanks to gifts like ours, they too will have amazing careers and will be able to give back in so many ways.”

You can join Dr. Howell in making a difference for future students through your estate plan. To explore your options, contact the Office of Planned Giving at (530) 754-2286 or plannedgiving@ucdavis.edu.