Meet the Dr. & Team

About Dentistry Downtown with Dr. Rebecca Howell

A local native, Dr. Rebecca (Heintschel) Howell grew up in South Huntsville. She graduated from Grissom High School then attended both the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa and UAH. At the University of Alabama, she continued her ballet experience performing on Alabama's dance team, The Crimson Cabaret. While attending UAH, she worked part-time as an oral surgeon assistant and she developed a passion for the dental field. In 1992 she finished her Bachelor of Chemistry from UAH then matriculated into dental school. Shortly before she received her dental degree from the University of Alabama School Of Dentistry in 1996, she married her husband, John. For over 30 years he has been employed by NASA while she has been at her current office location in Downtown Huntsville. John and Dr. Howell have three terrific children — Chase, Grant, and Hope.

Dr. Howell’s past hobbies were mostly Mom-related: soccer Mom, band Mom, tutoring math at Jones Valley Elementary, Volleyball Mom, and Boy Scouts. Dr. Howell and her son Chase have been on numerous camping trips including Scouts BSA high adventure sites: backpacking at Philmont, sailing at Sea Base, and kayaking at Northern Tier. Chase earned the Eagle Scout award, the highest rank. Teaching the Dentistry merit badge and being a certified merit badge counselor is another way Dr. Howell supported scouting. Her more current hobbies are being a Bowling Team Mom, college football games, gardening. For exercise, she attends HipHop classes at Element Dance Studio or workout at Arsenal Fitness.

Dr. Howell encourages the growth and passion for dentistry through internships for students from both local high schools and local colleges. Students can come to observe our dental team perform various treatments on patients and discover their own passion. She supports the Huntsville City Schools Health Sciences program by participating as an office for the students to intern at during their senior year. More than 200 seniors have shadowed at Dentistry Downtown since she got involved 6 years ago. Many of these kids are becoming the future doctors of America. Being active in her community is important to Dr. Howell and that's why she sponsors these internships for students who are interested in the field of dentistry as well as offers a scholarship.