March 5, 2009

VCU pediatric emergency medicine physician honored by Richmond YWCA

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By Colleen Flynn
VCU Communications and Public Relations

For more than 25 years, the Richmond chapter of the YWCA has been recognizing outstanding women and their achievements with the Outstanding Women Awards. This year, Robin Foster, M.D., associate professor of emergency medicine and director of pediatric emergency services at the VCU Medical Center, was among the honorees.

The Outstanding Women Awards honor women in 10 different categories, including arts, business, communications, education, health and science, human relations, government and politics, law, religion and volunteerism.

This year's winners were selected from more than 80 nominees, based on their impact on the community, their leadership skills, a high level of personal and professional achievement and commitment to the YWCA of Richmond’s mission to eliminate racism, empower women and elevate children.

“This is a huge honor, especially because of the caliber of the other nominees. I just feel truly honored to be included,” said Foster.

An active member in the Richmond community, Foster also serves as the board president for the Richmond Midnight Basketball League, an organization that serves at-risk adolescents.

She also is the cofounder and medical director for the Child Protection Team and serves as the current president of Prevent Child Abuse Virginia. Through her work with the Child Protection Team, Foster was able to partner with Stop Child Abuse Now of Greater Richmond to form the Child Advocacy Center.

Foster is a founding member of Bridging the Gap, a violence prevention program, and is an active member of Reach Out and Read, a program that provides books to children in medical environments.

Foster received her bachelor’s degree from the College of William & Mary and her medical degree from the VCU School of Medicine. She also participated in a two-year postgraduate fellowship for pediatric emergency medicine at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children in Philadelphia.

Since 1980, the YWCA has honored nearly 300 women, many of whom have been from Virginia Commonwealth University, including:

Dr. Carolyn McCue (1980) practiced at the Medical College of Virginia, now the VCU Medical Center, for 42 years. She created and chaired the school's Pediatric Cardiology Division for 20 years, during which she also was instrumental in establishing pediatric cardiology clinics in medically underserved communities throughout Virginia. She is the namesake of the inaugural Dr. Carolyn McCue Woman Cardiologist of the Year award presented by the VCU Pauley Heart Center.  

Dr. Jean Harris (1981) was the first black student admitted to what was then the Medical College of Virginia. 

Claudette B. McDaniel (1983), currently a recreation therapist in the Department of Therapeutic Recreation, has worked at VCU for nearly 50 years.  

Dr. Grace Edmondson Harris (1984) currently is a distinguished professor in the Center for Public Policy and provides direction and oversight for the Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute. Harris retired in June 1999 from the position of provost and vice president for academic affairs at VCU.  

Dr. Suzanne B. Hirt (1984) was the first chair of the physical therapy school and assisted in the development of an interdisciplinary rehabilitation program in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.  

Carol Burnham (1985) currently is a case manager in the Department of Internal Medicine.  

Rozanne G. Epps (1985) was the director of VCU Evening and Off-campus Studies.

Theresa Pollak (1986) was instrumental in the founding of VCU's School of the Arts.  

Dr. Susan Mellette (1987) came to what was then MCV in 1954 with a primary interest in oncology and retired as professor of medicine and rehabilitation medicine in 1995.

Dr. Lisa Kaplowitz (1988) was a faculty member in the Department of Medicine at Virginia Commonwealth University for 20 years and director of the VCU HIV/AIDS Center. In the latter role, she developed HIV clinical and training programs, and was involved extensively in HIV legislative and policy issues at both state and federal levels.

Betsy Brinson, Ph.D. (1994) was an assistant professor in the School of Medicine.

Anne Dobie Peebles (1995) currently is an advisory board member for the VCU Massey Cancer Center. 

Ida J. Hill (1996) currently is an adjunct professor in the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs.

Lerla G. Joseph, M.D. (1996) was a faculty member of the School of Medicine.

Joann N. Bodurtha, M.D., M.P.H. (1997) currently is a professor in the departments of Human and Molecular Genetics, Pediatrics, Obstetrics-Gynecology, Epidemiology and Community Health

Susan G. Kornstein, M.D. (1998) currently is professor of Psychiatry and Obstetrics and Gynecology and co-founder and executive director of the VCU Institute for Women's Health. She is also co-founder and executive director of the VCU Mood Disorders Institute and director of clinical research for the Department of Psychiatry.  

Daisy Frye Reed (1998) currently is an adjunct professor in the School of Education.  

Diane Cook-Tench (2000) founded the VCU Adcenter, now called the VCU Brandcenter.

Sheryl L. Garland (2000) currently is the VCU Health System vice president for community outreach.

JoAnne Kirk Henry, Ed.D, RN (2001) was director of the VCU Office of Health Policy and associate dean of the VCU School of Nursing.

Gail W. Johnson (2002) was an adjunct faculty member in the School of Nursing, Department of Maternal Child Nursing.

Marge Connelly (2003) was named to the VCU School of Business Foundation in 2008.  

Marcia Penn, Ph.D. (2003) currently is an adjunct instructor with the Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute.

Ellen Shaw de Paredes, M.D. (2004) was director of breast imaging at the VCU Medical Center.

Cathy Howard, Ph.D. (2004) currently is director of the Office of Community Programs at VCU and an associate professor in the Department of Psychology.

Carmen Foster (2004) was executive director of the Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute.

Janett Forte (2004) currently coordinates the National Center of Excellence in Women's Health. Deborah Jewell-Sherman (2005) currently is an affiliate faculty member in the School of Education.

Dr. Jo Lynne DeMary
(2006) currently is director of the Center for School Improvement in the School of Education.

Aradhana Bela Sood, M.D.

(2006) currently is professor and chair of the Division of Child Psychiatry/Virginia Treatment Center for Children.

Dr. Michelle Whitehurst-Cook

(2007) currently is associate dean for admissions in the School of Medicine and associate professor of family medicine.

Rebecca “Becky” Massey

(2007) currently is chair of the fund development committee at the VCU Massey Cancer Center.

Susan E. Dubuque
(2008) currently is an adjunct faculty member in the School of Allied Health Professions’ Department of Health Administration.