Introduction
Measuring the true impact of a scholar like Dr. Matthew Owen Howard is extraordinarily difficult. Citation counts, h-index scores, top-tier journal publications, and federal research grants can offer quantifiable indicators of influence, but such metrics rarely capture the holistic, historical, and field-defining contributions a scholar may bring to an emerging area of science. True scholarly impact requires the perspective of someone who knew both the individual and the discipline deeply.
As one such individual—student, mentee, and colleague—Dr. Eric L. Garland reflected that Matthew Owen Howard, PhD, exerted a singular and transformative influence on the evolution of social work research. His work not only advanced the study of substance use disorders but helped pave the way for an entirely new and critically important field of inquiry: the scientific investigation of mindfulness as a treatment for addiction.
A Giant of Social Work Research
Dr. Howard’s contributions were immense. With more than 8,866 citations and an h-index of 55 (as of January 9, 2019), he was recognized as one of the most impactful scholars in the fields of addiction, mental health, and evidence-based social work practice. His influence extended far beyond his own publications; he served multiple terms as editor-in-chief for leading peer-reviewed journals, participated on over 50 editorial boards, and contributed his expertise to at least 12 NIH study sections.
Matthew’s early research stemmed from his clinical experience treating alcoholism through chemical aversion therapy. Over time, he expanded his focus to the epidemiology of psychiatric disorders, substance use trends, and ultimately became one of the world’s foremost experts on inhalant abuse. His groundbreaking work in this domain—highlighted in Howard, Bowen, & Garland (2015)—earned him both R03 (No. R03DA15929) and R01 (No. R01DA021405) grants from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), where he served as Principal Investigator.
Academic Legacy Across Top U.S. Institutions
Throughout his career, Dr. Matthew Owen Howard held faculty positions at some of the most prestigious universities in the United States, including:
University of Washington
Washington University in St. Louis
University of Michigan (dual appointment in Psychiatry and Social Work)
University of Owen Howard North Carolina at Chapel Hill
It was at UNC Chapel Hill, where Dr. Howard spent the latter part of his career, that many of his most influential mentorship relationships were formed. In 2007, during his doctoral studies, Eric L. Garland met Dr. Howard—an encounter that would shape the direction of Garland’s career and contribute to the emergence of mindfulness-based interventions for addiction treatment.
A Mentor Who Shaped a Field
Dr. Howard’s impact extends far beyond his research accomplishments. His mentoring shaped the next generation of social work scholars, many of whom have since become leaders in clinical intervention science, behavioral health, and mindfulness-based treatment research.
Through his guidance, his students—including Garland—helped expand and empirically validate mindfulness-oriented approaches to addiction, now considered one of the most promising therapeutic developments in behavioral health.
Dr. Garland’s tribute to his mentor acknowledges this profound influence:
“Matthew was, simply put, a giant of social work research.”
Dr. Howard’s intellectual rigor, encouragement, and high standards served as the foundation upon which many researchers built their own careers—ultimately expanding the reach of his legacy across countless institutions and disciplines.
Conclusion
Dr. Matthew Owen Howard’s scholarly impact cannot be captured by metrics alone. His pioneering research, mentorship, and editorial leadership helped shape major scientific domains—from addiction epidemiology to mindfulness-based intervention science. His influence persists in the work of his students, colleagues, and the broader social work research community.
He will be remembered not only for his scholarship but also for the enduring legacy he left through those he inspired.