Josh Howell

JOSH HOWELL, MBA, MHA, FACHE

Josh Howell is the President & Chief Executive Officer for Life Link III, a Minneapolis/St. Paul-area based, independent-501(c)(3) organization. Life Link III is the largest provider of air medical transportation services in the upper Midwest, and the largest independent, notfor-profit air medical consortium in the U.S. Since 1985, Life Link III has grown to now include 10 memberowner health system organizations now representing over 80 individual hospitals. Life Link III’s memberowner organizations include: Allina Health, CentraCare Health, Children’s Minnesota, Essentia Health, Fairview Health, Regions Hospital/HealthPartners, Hennepin Healthcare, Marshfield Clinic Health System, St. Luke’s Health, and HSHS Sacred Heart. Life Link III’s organizational footprint has nearly tripled since Josh joined the organization in late 2015, growing to 13 operating locations, a fleet of nearly 20 aircraft, and a workforce of over 300 highly specialized employees. In 2020, Josh also led the acquisition of a Kentucky-based subsidiary providing critical care education & software to advanced clinical practitioners worldwide. During Josh’s tenure, Life Link III has received international recognition by being awarded the Air Medical Program of the Year by the Association of Air Medical Services (AAMS) in addition to receiving the Vision Zero Safety Award. Life Link III is routinely recognized by Minneapolis’ Star Tribune as one of Minnesota’s Top Workplaces. Throughout 2016-2021, Josh also held roles of Vice President, Strategy & Business Optimization & Vice President, Operations for Life Link III.

Josh is a former Paramedic, an alumnus of the Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences Graduate Program in Health Care Administration & an alumnus of the Northeastern State University School of Business and Technology Graduate Program in Business Administration. He is member and Certified Healthcare Financial Professional (CHFP) of the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA), a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE) and certified in Six Sigma. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Children’s Hospital Association of St. Paul, MN, the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation of Minneapolis, MN, Lakes Region Emergency Medical Services of MN & WI, and as a Mentor/Mentorship Committee member for the Minnesota Chapter of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Josh is active in his community and lives with his wife, Tara, and their three children in Elk River, Minnesota.