Selwynn Howard, MD, a longtime Atlanta-area anesthesiologist, died Sept. 1 of cancer at age 60.
Dr. Howard served as chair of the anesthesiology department at Piedmont Rockdale Hospital in Conyers, Ga., and spent nearly 20 years as a partner with Rockdale Anesthesia. He later founded At Your Service Anesthesia and served as its president and CEO.
He graduated magna cum laude from Morehouse College in Atlanta and earned his medical degree from Howard University College of Medicine in Washington, D.C. Dr. Howard completed an internal medicine internship at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Oakland, Calif., served as a battalion surgeon with the U.S. Marine Corps and left the Navy as a lieutenant commander.
After an anesthesiology residency at George Washington University, Dr. Howard became the first Black attending anesthesiologist and pain physician at George Washington University Medical Center, according to the obituary.
He mentored future clinicians throughout his career, speaking at Spelman College, Morehouse College and Emory University. He also spoke regularly to the Morehouse Pre-Health Career Society, most recently in June 2026, and hosted a podcast, “The Dr. Selwynn Howard Show,” which featured medical professionals discussing their careers.
Dr. Howard is survived by his wife, Paytie Davis Howard, DDS, and three daughters.
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