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Henry Foster (doctor)
Encyclopedia
Dr. Henry Foster, Jr., is Professor Emeritus and former Dean of the School of Medicine at Meharry Medical College
in the United States. He is also Clinical Professor, Obstetrics and Gynecology at Vanderbilt University
.
’s Senior Advisor on Teen Pregnancy Reduction and Youth Issues, and was a nominee to the post of Surgeon General of the United States
by Clinton in 1995. Foster, an obstetrician from Tennessee
, was nominated to fill the void left by Jocelyn Elders, but garnered substantial controversy when he admitted that he had performed abortion
s. Although there were questions raised concerning his involvement with forced sterilizations during the Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment, Dr. Foster has sharply denied involvement although employed by the University during the final period of the experiments. When asked how many abortions he had performed, he initially replied that it had been few, but later stated the number was likely substantially higher. Opponents accused him of dishonesty, while he defended himself by stating that he couldn't make a spur of the moment specific recollection without examining his records. Foster faced significant opposition in the Senate
, mostly by pro-life
Republicans. Foster's nomination was withdrawn on June 22, following a fillibuster by Senator Phil Gramm
, who was seeking the 1996 Republican presidential nomination at the time.
During his career, Dr. Foster has produced more than 250 publications and abstracts as well as contributed chapters to textbooks. He has a book titled Make A Difference. He has conducted many university lectureships and his professional expertise has been sought across the globe.
Foster wrote an autobiography in 1997 titled Make a Difference: the Founder of the 'I Have a Future Program' Shares His Vision for Young America.
Dr. Foster is immediate past chair of the U.S. Committee for the United Nations Population Fund
. He is immediate past chair of the Board of Directors for Pathfinder International
. He previously served two terms as chair of the Board of Regents of the United States National Library of Medicine
.
in Atlanta, Georgia, where he was initiated into the Pi Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi
Fraternity.
Meharry Medical College
Meharry Medical College, located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States, is a graduate and professional institution affiliated with the United Methodist Church whose mission is to educate healthcare professionals and scientists. Founded in 1876 as the Medical Department of Central Tennessee...
in the United States. He is also Clinical Professor, Obstetrics and Gynecology at Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University is a private research university located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1873, the university is named for shipping and rail magnate "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided Vanderbilt its initial $1 million endowment despite having never been to the...
.
Career
Dr. Henry Foster served as U.S. President Bill ClintonBill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
’s Senior Advisor on Teen Pregnancy Reduction and Youth Issues, and was a nominee to the post of Surgeon General of the United States
Surgeon General of the United States
The Surgeon General of the United States is the operational head of the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps and thus the leading spokesperson on matters of public health in the federal government...
by Clinton in 1995. Foster, an obstetrician from Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
, was nominated to fill the void left by Jocelyn Elders, but garnered substantial controversy when he admitted that he had performed abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
s. Although there were questions raised concerning his involvement with forced sterilizations during the Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment, Dr. Foster has sharply denied involvement although employed by the University during the final period of the experiments. When asked how many abortions he had performed, he initially replied that it had been few, but later stated the number was likely substantially higher. Opponents accused him of dishonesty, while he defended himself by stating that he couldn't make a spur of the moment specific recollection without examining his records. Foster faced significant opposition in the Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
, mostly by pro-life
Pro-life
Opposition to the legalization of abortion is centered around the pro-life, or anti-abortion, movement, a social and political movement opposing elective abortion on moral grounds and supporting its legal prohibition or restriction...
Republicans. Foster's nomination was withdrawn on June 22, following a fillibuster by Senator Phil Gramm
Phil Gramm
William Philip "Phil" Gramm is an American economist and politician, who has served as a Democratic Congressman , a Republican Congressman and a Republican Senator from Texas...
, who was seeking the 1996 Republican presidential nomination at the time.
During his career, Dr. Foster has produced more than 250 publications and abstracts as well as contributed chapters to textbooks. He has a book titled Make A Difference. He has conducted many university lectureships and his professional expertise has been sought across the globe.
Dr. Foster is immediate past chair of the U.S. Committee for the United Nations Population Fund
United Nations Population Fund
The United Nations Population Fund is a UN organization. The work of the UNFPA involves promotion of the right of every woman, man and child to enjoy a life of health and equal opportunity. This is done through major national and demographic surveys and with population censuses...
. He is immediate past chair of the Board of Directors for Pathfinder International
Pathfinder International
Pathfinder International is based in Watertown, Massachusetts and is a global non-profit organization , that focuses on reproductive health, family planning, HIV/AIDS prevention and care, women and girls empowerment, and more. Under the leadership of Daniel E...
. He previously served two terms as chair of the Board of Regents of the United States National Library of Medicine
United States National Library of Medicine
The United States National Library of Medicine , operated by the United States federal government, is the world's largest medical library. Located in Bethesda, Maryland, the NLM is a division of the National Institutes of Health...
.
Education
Dr. Foster has received six honorary doctorate degrees. He is a graduate of Morehouse CollegeMorehouse College
Morehouse College is a private, all-male, liberal arts, historically black college located in Atlanta, Georgia. Along with Hampden-Sydney College and Wabash College, Morehouse is one of three remaining traditional men's colleges in the United States....
in Atlanta, Georgia, where he was initiated into the Pi Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi
Kappa Alpha Psi
Kappa Alpha Psi is a collegiate Greek-letter fraternity with a predominantly African American membership. Since the fraternity's founding on January 5, 1911 at Indiana University Bloomington, the fraternity has never limited membership based on color, creed or national origin...
Fraternity.
External links
- Henry Foster's oral history video excerpts at The National Visionary Leadership Project