Dr Leon Foster is a certified gynaecological oncologist (CGO) and almost a Canberra local. After training at the Australian Defence Force Academy and the Royal Military College Duntroon, he returned to undertake his medical training at the Australian National University and subsequently worked as a junior medical officer at Canberra and Calvary Hospitals.
He then worked as an Australian Army medical officer serving in Darwin, Brisbane, and Afghanistan before moving to where his medical passion lay, Obstetrics and Gynaecology (a long way from being an Army doctor !!)
During his general obstetrics and gynaecology training he trained in Caboolture Queensland, Calvary Belconnen, Wagga Wagga and the Canberra Hospital. It was during this time that he was awarded the Matthew Davey Award as the most outstanding junior medical officer in the ACT. An award based on the hard work of the team of junior doctors that he worked with.
Leon subsequently began training to become a gynaecological cancer surgical specialist (gynaecological oncologist). He could see that there was a need for the ACT region to have a resident gynaecological cancer surgical unit. After selection to commence training towards a certification in gynaecology oncology he completed fellowship training under the team at Westmead Hospital and the Royal Hospital for Women in Sydney. The indelible marks of that training are unlikely to be washed out any time soon. During the final year of training at the Royal Hospital for Women in Randwick he worked with the fly in fly out service to Canberra.
Leon has an amazing wife and three wonderful children who he hopes to spend more time with now that he is back in Canberra. He hates being late but often is as he also hates not taking the time to make sure his patients understand what is going on and providing them with the time they need. He understands that humans are complicated and tries to understand that their medical journey includes their family, social, psychological, and spiritual health as well.