Brian Foster, M.D.

My interest in medicine began at an early age when my dad, as a busy general surgeon, often took me to work with him while making his rounds on the weekend and on-call overnight. I loved everything about the hospital: from the hustle and bustle of a level one trauma center, to how my dad put people at ease with his unparalleled bedside manner. Just as influential was what I saw outside of the hospital: appreciative patients thanking my dad for helping them through times when they were sick or injured and most vulnerable. Even as a child, I knew I wanted to make this same difference in peoples’ lives.

I focused my educational career around medicine and even spent time as a nursing assistant in the intensive care unit during college, where I gained valuable insight into the team effort required for patient care.

After completing my medical degree I was exposed to many areas of orthopedic surgery during my residency. While treating an abundance of hand injuries in both the emergency and operating room I began to realize that though they are just a small part of the body, hands affect daily function in a significant way. Consequently, repair of hand injuries and deformities can dramatically improve a patient’s life.

My decision to pursue hand surgery as a career was further strengthened by a medical mission trip to Vietnam. We operated on children with a variety of hand problems, from syndactyly in Apert Syndrome to ulnar nerve deficiency resulting from trauma. By restoring form and function to these children’s hands, we added a new dimension to their lives.

My approach to patient care revolves around communication. As a hand and upper extremity surgeon, my job is to evaluate and treat disorders including, but not limited to, traumatic, degenerative, congenital, and rheumatologic problems. A vital part of my job, however, is to educate patients and their families of their diagnosis, treatment options, and expected outcomes. To do this well, I must learn what makes a patient unique.

I am looking forward to meeting you and helping guide you through the best course of management for your condition. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to further improve your experience at OrthoIllinois. My goal is to provide you the best medical care available.
- Brian Foster, M.D.


Conditions & Treatments
Basil Joint Arthritis
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Circulation Problems
Congenital Hand Conditions
Cubital Tunnel
De Quevair's Tenosynovitis
Distal Radius Fracture
Dupuytren's Contracture
Elbow Fracture
Flexor Tendonitis
Fractures
Flexor Tendonitis
Fractures
Ganglion Cysts
Golf Elbow/ Medial Epicondylitis
Hand or Arm Pain
Joint Replacement
Lacerations
Mallet Finger
Nerve Problems in the Upper Extremity
Numbness and Tingling
Osteoarthritis of the Hand
Osteochondritis Dissecans of the Elbow
Rheumatoid Arthritis of the Hand
Sprains and Strains
Tendon and Ligament Injuries
Tennis Elbow/Lateral Epicondylitis
Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex (TFCC) Injuries
Trigger Finger
Ulnar Collateral Ligament Injury

Training
Bachelor's Degree, University of Richmond
Medical Degree, Wayne State University School of Medicine
Residency, Loyola University Medical Center Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation
Fellowship, Harvard Hand and Upper Extremity, Brigham and Women’s Hospital / Children’s Hospital


Memberships
Board-certified: The American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery
Board-certified: Subspecialty in Surgery of the Hand
Member: American Society for Surgery of the Hand
Assistant Professor: University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford
Member: American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS)
Team Physician: Rockford IceHogs

Hospital Affiliations
OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center
SwedishAmerican Hospital
Advocate Sherman Hospital
Mercy Rockford Hospital
Ortho Illinois Surgery Center
Rockford Ambulatory Surgery Center
Van Matre HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital