Foster Lerner

Background

About Foster Lerner

I graduated Nova Southeastern University in Davie, FL with a Doctorate in Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.). I was accepted into the MSOPTI/Bluefield Regional Medical Center Family Medicine Residency in Bluefield, WV and successfully completed my intern year there (PD: LaDonna Bowling, DO). The hospital and residency were closed due to COVID-19-related budgetary shortfalls. I successfully completed the PGY-2 year of the Abington Family Medicine Residency in Abington, PA (PD: John Russell, MD) but re-evaluated my career and lifestyle goals in light of my growing family, and left Family Medicine after that time. During that time however in addition to both typical inpatient and outpatient rotations, I spent time with the hospital's wound care team and attended NAWCO's wound care training and examination and earned the W.C.C. wound care certification, which I intend to maintain and possibly earn other similar certifications. I also gained special permission from my PD at that time to rotate with an occupational specialist physician in Levittown, PA, giving me a deep appreciation for this medical work. Following this year, having reached out to my alma mater as part of my search for the next step, I entered the Nova Southeastern University Correctional Medicine Fellowship Program, partnered with Centurion Health working in correctional facilities (i.e. prisons) in the Central Florida Region (PD: John May, MD). I discontinued this training with the option to resume, because I was accepted into the UT Tyler School of Medicine Occupational & Environmental Medicine Residency Program (PD: Dalia Nessim, MD). My clinical research focus has been on the nature of rotator cuff tear injuries, their compensability through the Texas WCI system, and comparing the occupational injuries with those of the general population via statistical analysis to look for significant differences. This work along with other academic work engaged in alongside clinical duties will culminate in the earning of the MPH degree when I graduate my program (ant. June 2024). I am also pursuing clinical research with a colleague on exogenous testosterone use in high-physical-demand occupations. Additionally, I am interested in pneumoconioses including Asbestosis and Silicosis which are associated with certain occupations and have historically been a research focus at my institution (Academic Advisor: Jeffrey Levin, MD).