The life and legacy of Dr. Howard Daniel, whose East Oakland practice became a part of LifeLong Medical Care 16 years ago, was celebrated this month by local dignitaries, former patients, and his extensive family. Dr. Daniel passed away on June 15, 2022, days before his 89th birthday.
“His practice, started in 1968, was not just a medical office but a sanctuary for so many in this community,” Alameda County Board President Nate Miley said. “He faced and overcame systemic barriers, starting with his own practice, when Black doctors were often excluded. This was not just an act of personal triumph, but an act of resistance against a system that continues to leave too many behind. In honoring him today, we recognize the critical need to continue dismantling these barriers today, as we face the challenge of ensuring access to comprehensive healthcare for all.”
Miley continued, “Dr. Daniel’s work aligned with our ongoing commitment to health equity, and it reminds us that investment in community-based healthcare can change lives.”
Many who spoke noted that Dr. Daniel, raised in Ohio and Jamaica, Queens, New York, and educated at Howard University College of Medicine, could have practiced anywhere, but he chose East Oakland and kept his practice in the community for 45 years. During that time, he delivered close to 5,000 babies, his son Kent Daniel told the gathering. He merged his practice with LifeLong in 2008, when it became LifeLong’s Howard Daniel Health Center.
Dr. Daniel’s parents were professors at Wilberforce University in Ohio, and his father performed with a gospel group, the Charioteers, who sang with Bing Crosby, among others. That brought the family to California during the summers. After graduating from medical school, Dr. Daniel completed his residency in California, which enabled him to understand the healthcare needs of underserved communities in the East Bay.
“His service extended beyond medicine,” his son Kent Daniel, one of five of Dr. Daniel’s children, said. “It was about making sure that every patient knew they were valued, heard and respected.” Dr. Daniel, an athlete in his youth, became an ultra-marathoner (that’s running 100 miles) later in life. “His athleticism wasn’t just a hobby. It reflected his approach to life. He pushed boundaries, persevered through challenges, and sought to better himself in every way, always leading by example.”
Dr. Norman Banks, Associate Medical Director at Howard Daniel Health Center, took over the practice from Dr. Daniel 12 years ago. He said the fact that so many in attendance had worked at the clinic for decades is a testament to Dr. Daniel’s warmth and generosity of spirit.
“You know, people tend to not like going to the doctor,” Dr. Banks said. “But it’s always a little easier when you see familiar faces and you bond with people that look like you. It really helps to improve health outcomes a great deal.”
Dr. Banks noted that in the last 12 years, the clinic has been able to expand mental health care and introduce wellness classes to help keep patients from getting chronic conditions.
To that end, LifeLong Deputy Director Lucinda Bazile introduced the new Howard Daniel Memorial Fund, dedicated to raising $25,000 to support wellness classes at the health center.
“Dr. Daniel’s work is a reminder that we must prioritize healthcare equity, not just as a policy objective but as a moral obligation,” Miley told the gathering. “This community, like so many others across the country, is often forgotten in the larger healthcare system. Dr. Daniel never forgot, and neither should we.”
Donations can be made to support LifeLong’s work in honor of Dr. Daniel here
