May 31, 2024  –   FORT CAVAZOS, Texas – Dr. Howard Richman, a podiatrist at the Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center, is retiring today, May 31, so he can spend more time with his wife of 33 years.
 
He knew he wanted to be a doctor since he was five years old. He spent the first 10 years of his career in the private sector in Houston. He and his wife wanted to move out of the big city, so he applied for, and got, a podiatrist position here at CRDAMC. It was a decision he never second guessed.
 
“Since I did not choose a career path in the military, it is my way of giving back to our service men and women, veterans, and their families,” he said.
 
He has worked at CRDAMC for 27 years. A lot has changed since he started, the new CRDAMC was built, September 11, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the creation of Facebook, YouTube and other famous social media applications, the invention of the smartphone and many others. Yet Richman remained. The decision to stay for so long has always boiled down to his love for one thing.
 
“In a nutshell, the people. This includes everyone, command level personnel, my colleagues, other medical providers, support staff and the patients,” he said.
 
The decision to stay was always an easy one. So was the decision to retire.
 
“It’s funny because it isn’t very emotional for me. If there is one emotion, it is disbelief,” he admitted. “Am I really at this point in my career and my life? Honestly, the decision was not difficult.  It is time to look forward to the next chapter in my life.” 
 
People within an organization will always come and go, but losing someone like Richman is never easy.
 
Hospital commander, Col. Garrick Cramer, expressed great gratitude for Richman, “I’m excited for him, and his family, as they embark on their next adventure. This organization, this community and the U.S. Army are grateful for the countless people he has helped throughout his 27 years of service here.” 
 
Lt. Col. Juan Saavedra, deputy commander of surgical services, says it won’t be easy to replace him, “Dr. Richman is a great doctor. He’s coached and mentored dozens of other doctors, and helped so many people that the person who replaces him will definitely have some big shoes to fill.”
 
There’s no philosophical quote, final words or motivational speech he wanted to leave people with as he prepares to walk out the doors here at CRDAMC one final time. In parting, he only added one thing when reflecting on the countless people he’s been able to help throughout his time as a podiatrist.
 
“There is a sense of satisfaction helping other people,” he said. “I can only hope that I have made people’s lives better.”