[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 156 (Thursday, December 2, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2046]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    A TRIBUTE TO ANN-MARIE K. FOSTER

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                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS-

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 2, 2010

  Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Ann-Marie K. 
Foster.
  Ann-Marie Karlene Goddard Foster was born to serve and help others. 
Born in Brooklyn, New York on June 22, 1969, she is the eldest of three 
children born to the late Marva Williams. After losing her mother to 
gun violence at the tender age of eight years old, Ann-Marie's desire 
to help others in her community began to take root. Ms. Foster was 
raised by her loving grandmother, Josephine Ellis, and her late 
grandfather, Clayton Ellis; her grandparents instilled in her that a 
solid education was the key to endless opportunities, and a mantra such 
as ``what is in your head can't nobody take it away from you.'' She 
graduated at the age of 16 with a Regents diploma from Brooklyn 
Technical High School in 1986. She went on to earn a Bachelor of 
Science degree in Biology from Utica College of Syracuse University in 
1990 with intentions of serving in the health care community.
  Upon her return to Brooklyn, her first employment opportunity was for 
the Health Insurance Plan (HIP) of New York working as a Medical 
Assistant. During her time at HIP serving in the Women's Health 
Division, she learned early the power of engaging women in caring for 
their health which ultimately could shape the health outcomes of the 
entire family. It was also during this time that she saw the necessity 
to have health care providers who could relate to a vulnerable 
population--those who often put other priorities ahead of their own 
health--women. As the HIV epidemic and the spread of STDs began to take 
its toll on the African American community, being able to communicate 
without judgment was the key to the center's success.
  In 1991, she joined the New York City Health and Hospitals 
Corporation at Metropolitan Hospital Center in New York and began a 
journey that would span 19 years in increasing administrative 
capacities. One of her most rewarding times was spent at Woodhull 
Medical Center in Brooklyn where she met her mentor who would guide her 
career and allow her to spread her administrative wings. The seasoning 
of her experience at Woodhull prepared her for her most challenging 
opportunity to date. In June 2009, she was recruited to lead the oldest 
public hospital psychiatric program at Bellevue Hospital Center. 
Currently, Ms. Foster is the Senior Associate Executive Director of the 
Psychiatry and Child/Adolescent Psychiatry departments, which includes 
a 339 bed inpatient unit and multiple mental health ambulatory care 
services. She is a member of the American College of Health Care 
Executives and the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
  Ms. Foster is most proud of being the mother of two beautiful 
children, Maya, 13 and Myles, 9; both of whom attend independent 
schools in NYC. Ms. Foster finds time to be a class representative at 
her daughters' school, serve in the Parents' Association, mentor young 
women at the Lenox Road Baptist Church, where she is a member, and 
participate in community service projects. She continues to live in 
Brooklyn with her husband of fifteen years, Ray Foster, and her 
children.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing the 
achievements of Ann-Marie K. Foster.

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