Dave Foster
Executive Director of Patient Support and Medical Assistance
- Director of Mesothelioma.net Patient Support for over eleven years
- Has met with and assisted hundreds of mesothelioma patients and their families
- Master’s degree in science
- Father passed from asbestos related lung cancer
Dave’s Story
My father was a decorated Korean War veteran. After returning from the war, he paid his way through dental school as a brick mason on weekends and evenings. He worked hard his entire life and instilled in me the values of honesty, work ethic, and compassion.
Shortly after retiring from his dental practice, he was diagnosed with asbestos-related lung cancer. He struggled with the disease for five years before dying.
Hearing the stories of numerous points of exposure to asbestos in the military, as a mason, and even as a dentist allowed me to appreciate the tremendous number of asbestos products people were exposed to in all walks of life.
Background in Medical Science
After graduating from Oklahoma State University with a Master’s degree in science, I began working as a medical scientist for pharmaceutical research at major medical hospitals across the US with Merck and Pfizer.
Because of my experience in dealing with medical research and academic thought leaders, I was asked by Mesotheliona.net founder Rod De Llano to help him build a patient advocacy program that would help mesothelioma and lung cancer patients find appropriate medical care.
Fighting for Mesothelioma Patients: “Most rewarding work of my career”
I was offered the opportunity of a lifetime; I can honestly say the work I do is the most rewarding of my thirty-year career. I have had the fortunate experience to help hundreds of patients and their families find medical and financial assistance they would otherwise not have been able to obtain.
I have been the director of Patient Services for over ten years and have personally met with hundreds of mesothelioma patients and their families. I have seen the same pain and anguish in their faces that my father went through as he struggled with chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery.
I have done my best in life to make my father proud of me both in my work ethic and commitment to the families I work with. I look forward to fighting for many more mesothelioma patients and their families.
If I have the good fortune to meet with you in the future, I hope you will believe I will do all I can to help you and exceed your expectations.