Donald William Foster, M.D. of Sherborn, died Friday July 8, 2016 at his home.He was the beloved husband of Mary (Sullivan) Foster.
Dr. Foster was born in Lebanon, NH and grew up in the Boston area. After graduation from high school in Milford, MA in 1969, he served in the US Air Force and was honorably discharged as a sergeant in 1974. He then attended Boston University and received a Bachelor of the Arts in Biology cum laude in 1980. He then worked as a research associate for the Howard Hughes Medical Institute at Harvard Medical School, where he co-authored several scientific publications in such journals as Biochemistry, Immunology, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA, and Journal of Infectious Diseases. He also shared authorship of a chapter in a text in Immunology.
Dr. Foster then attended New York Medical College, where he earned his medical degree in 1988. He then completed two years of general surgery internship and residency in the Department of Surgery, New York Medical College at Westchester Medical Center. In 1990, Dr. Foster returned to Boston to perform an Anesthesia residency at the Harvard Medical School Department of Anesthesia at Brigham and Woman’s Hospital. Following anesthesia residency training in 1993, Dr. Foster joined Anesthesia Associates Massachusetts (AAM), and became a Clinical Instructor of Anesthesia at Harvard Medical School at Boston Deaconess Hospital. Dr. Foster also held staff positions at several other hospitals and surgery centers, including Faulkner Hospital, Saints Memorial Medical Center, Deaconess-Glover Hospital, New England Surgicare and Boston IVF. During this period, Dr. Foster co-authored two chapters in medical texts; one concerning anesthesia in diabetic patients and the other anesthesia for orthopedic surgery.
In 1995, Dr. Foster became the Vice-Chairman of the department of Anesthesia at the New England Baptist Hospital in Boston, where he worked until retirement due to ill health in 2000.
Dr. Foster was also an artist with an avid interest in maritime painting. While in high school, he received awards from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, the Massachusetts College of Art and the Boston Ad Club. He also had artwork displayed at the United States Department of State in Washington, D.C. Dr. Foster was a Diplomate of the National Board of Medical Examiners and a Certified Consultant of the American Board of Anesthesiology. He was also a member of the American Medical Association , the Massachusetts Medical Society and several anesthesia societies including the American Society of Anesthesiologists, the International Anesthesia Research Society and the American Society of Regional Anesthesia.
In addition to his wife he is survived by two brothers Gene of Florida, David of Alaska, two sisters, Susan of Marshfield, Judy of Virginia, and many nieces and nephews.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend his Mass of Christian Burial on Wednesday, July 13th, at 10:00 A.M. in St Linus Church, 119 Hartford Street, Natick. Visiting hours omitted.
Expressions of sympathy may be made in his memory to Marine Toys for Tots, 18251 Quantico Gateway Drive Triangle, VA 22172-1776