We are thrilled to announce the establishment of the Gary D. Foster Award for Outstanding Research in Clinical Psychology. This award has been created in honor of the esteemed Gary Foster, CLA ‘95, whose career has exemplified excellence in academia, clinical practice and research.
He completed his doctoral training in the Clinical Psychology PhD program at Temple, under the mentorship of Phil Kendall. Gary then embarked on his journey at the University of Pennsylvania in 1995, where he began his career and thrived in all aspects of academic life and clinical practice.
Recognizing his exceptional talent and dedication, Temple University recruited him in 2006 as Professor and Founding Director of the Center for Obesity Research and Education (CORE). In just seven years, Gary's outstanding leadership propelled CORE, and Temple University as a whole, to become one of the nation's foremost programs in investigating the psychosocial and public health consequences of obesity, as well as the prevention and treatment of this disease.
His impact on Temple University and the field of clinical psychology is immeasurable. Since 2013, Gary has served as the Chief Scientific Officer at Weight Watchers (WW) International, an organization with global reach that provides services to more than 4 million individuals each year. His role places him at the forefront of treatment dissemination, and he has conducted numerous controlled trials at WW to ensure that treatment is always guided by the best evidence-based research.
In recognition of Gary Foster's enduring association with CORE and his pride in his doctoral degree from Temple University, friends and colleagues of Dr. Foster have established the Gary D. Foster Award for Outstanding Research in Clinical Psychology within Temple's Clinical Psychology program. This biannual award will honor a distinguished graduate student who has demonstrated exceptional research contributions to the field of clinical psychology.
The creation of the Gary D. Foster Award for Outstanding Research in Clinical Psychology serves to honor Gary’s enduring legacy, recognize excellence in his doctoral program and provide a platform for future celebrations of Dr. Foster’s contributions to the field.