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Wellstar Children’s Hospital of Georgia dedicates new lobby to pioneering Pediatric Surgeon Dr. Charles Howell
Published on October 15, 2025
Last updated 08:43 AM October 15, 2025
AUGUSTA, Ga. (Oct. 13, 2025) –
Wellstar Children’s Hospital of Georgia
officially cut the ribbon on its updated lobby Monday with a ceremony attended by donors, dignitaries from Wellstar, Wellstar MCG Health Medical Center, Augusta University and the city of Augusta.
There was also a very special guest in attendance, Dr. Charles Howell, who throughout his career has been one of Wellstar Children’s Hospital of Georgia’s biggest advocates. From the stage, he watched, visibly touched, as a giant purple curtain fell, revealing the words “Dr. Charles G. Howell Jr Lobby” stretching across the lobby wall, greeting guests as they enter.
“I’m a little embarrassed,” Dr. Howell said as he took the podium.
He went on to say that many times over the years, patient families told him they didn’t know where to go for care, and now any patient who walks through the door of Wellstar Children’s Hospital of Georgia will find physicians who are board-certified in many specialties.
“You get the best care without saying anything, and for that I am very proud,” he said.
The moment had been kept top-secret, even from many event organizers. Planners knew they were organizing a special recognition, but the identity and exact nature of the surprise was revealed to leaders on a need-to-know basis to avoid spoiling the surprise. Leaders who knew, agreed that this was just as it should be. After all, Wellstar Children’s Hospital of Georgia would not exist without Dr. Howell’s steadfast advocacy.
There’s a well-known story that Dr. Howell offhandedly mentioned the need for a children’s hospital to a patient’s father—a spark that would lead to securing the necessary funding only a few years later. Dr. Howell did not know the comment was made to the chief aide to Rep. Tom Murphy, then Speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives. Ten years later, the children’s hospital was a reality.
Dr. Howell was also instrumental in designing the hospital, involving children and families in the process to ensure their needs were met. Children’s Medical Center, now Wellstar Children’s Hospital of Georgia, opened in 1998 and expanded pediatric inpatient capacity from 32 to 154 beds. Dr. Howell is one of Georgia’s greatest advocates for children’s healthcare.
As part of the celebration, Augusta Mayor Garnett Johnson read a proclamation declaring Oct. 13 “Dr. Charles Howell Day,” and presented him with a plaque.
Wellstar MCG Health President Ralph Turner also thanked Dr. Howell for his dedication and service to Georgia’s children.
“When someone dedicates their lives to taking care of our children and only makes one profound statement that grows into an entire facility—and he dedicates 40 years of his life taking care of children—this, today, just feels right,” Turner said.
As a pediatric surgeon, Dr. Howell has performed more than 16,000 procedures. He graduated from Medical College of Georgia in 1973 and, following a pediatric surgery residency at a children’s hospital in Philadelphia, returned to Augusta to practice.
In addition to operating on nearly 400 children each year, Dr. Howell started a pediatric ECMO program and a pediatric trauma program. He also served as capital campaign co-chair to assist in bringing Ronald McDonald House to its current location—only steps from Wellstar Children's Hospital of Georgia.
In 2018, following his 40-year surgical career, Dr. Howell retired as surgeon-in-chief of the children's hospital and chief of the department of surgery for Wellstar MCG Health. He returned to the health system in 2019 as the head of the hospital’s physician practice group.
The lobby of Wellstar Children’s Hospital of Georgia was the first large renovation project at the children’s hospital since it was built in 1998. The renovation includes new flooring, removal of an old fountain and updated furniture. A donor wall has also been installed to recognize the generous donors who help the hospital fulfill its mission of providing patient- and family-centered care for every family who seeks care at Wellstar Children’s Hospital of Georgia.
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As healthcare evolves, hospital systems prioritize not only the level of care they provide, but also how well they respond to the needs of the people they serve.
This is true with programs like Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s Quality-In-Sights: Hospital Incentive Program (Q-HIP), which scores organizations’ health equity efforts.
When we invest in equitable care, our patients receive better treatment, our team members feel supported and we have additional resources that we can use to improve care.
Why do programs rewarding health equity matter?
Programs like Q-HIP recognize healthcare organizations for delivering high-quality, patient-centered care. Rather than focusing on how many patients are seen, these models score performance across quality, safety, outcomes and experience.
Programs like Q-HIP align with Wellstar's mission to enhance the health and well-being of every person we serve.
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Q-HIP has recognized Wellstar with a reimbursement bonus point for health equity, acknowledging our efforts to reach underserved patients and tailor our care to the communities and people we serve.
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The Q-HIP health equity assessment evaluates whether health systems:
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Wellstar’s approach: Equity as responsiveness
At Wellstar, health equity is part of everything we do. Through Wellstar Community Health and Center for Health Equity, equity is embedded into how we design care, improve quality, engage leadership across the system and analyze data.
We focus on understanding who we serve, identifying barriers to care and continuously improving how services are delivered.
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Why equity investments benefit everyone
When patients can access care more easily and feel like their clinicians care about them, they’re more likely to get the preventative care they need. This helps them manage chronic conditions like diabetes, stay ahead of disease and avoid unnecessary hospitalizations.
Equity-driven improvements also support Wellstar team members by improving workflows and enabling us to invest resources in our people.
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Why continued investment matters
Programs like Q-HIP make it clear: Equity performance is quality performance and quality performance is rewarded.
For Wellstar, continued investment in health equity means:
- Stronger performance in programs like Q-HIP
- Resources to reinvest in team members and care
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- A healthcare system that is responsive, resilient and sustainable
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