Health Journey 2008 - Gwen Foster Biography

Gwen Foster has been a health enthusiast for more than 25 years. Her desire to improve health outcomes for African Americans and other under-served populations led her to Loma Linda University, School of Public Health, where she earned a Master of Science degree in Public Health. Foster has served for five terms on the Board of Trustees for Loma Linda University.

In 1977, The Allegheny East Conference of Seventh-Day Adventists elected Foster as Health Ministries Director to serve its 30,000 constituents in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, the District of Columbia, Virginia and West Virginia. She has also served as a health consultant to the world field of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, seeking to eliminate destructive lifestyle patterns in her quest for optimum health for all people. Her travels have taken her to Russia--Siberia and Moscow, Canada, England, Germany, Taiwan, East Africa, Bermuda, the Caribbean and throughout North America.

During her tenure as Health Ministries Director for the Allegheny East Conference of Seventh-Day Adventists, in the year 1978, Gwen developed the Fitness for Life health camp, a two-week, residential program for families, located in Pine Forge, Pennsylvania. She also designed a certificate program that prepares non-health professionals to become effective lifestyle coaches and mentors. From 1994 - 1999, Foster hosted a radio talk show, Fitness for Life, on W.H.A.T. in Philadelphia.

At the core of Gwen's strategies for improving public health are basic health principles, which, if incorporated as habits into one's lifestyle, have been proven to arrest and prevent many chronic health disorders such as obesity, hypertension and Type II diabetes. Utilizing the simple principles that promote increased physical activity and a plant-based diet, Gwen's diabetes initiative, in partnership with the Lifestyle Center of America, has been recognized as a best practice for minorities, by the National Diabetes Education Program.

In February, 2000, former Mayor John Street established the "Mayor's Office of Health and Fitness," and appointed Gwen to serve the City as "Health and Fitness Czar" with its initiative, "Fun, Fit and Free!" The idea is to engage Philadelphians in FUN activities, as constituents get FIT and FREE from destructive lifestyle patterns. Since the initiative began, Foster has established such activities as Dine Out on Healthy Street, Health Journey, Chefs in Red, Kidz in the Kitchen, The Mayor's Family Fitness Challenge, FUN, FIT AND FREE, LET'S SEE WHAT YOU CAN BE! and a weekly television program on Time Warner cable.

Most recently she has joined forces with Bally Total Fitness, Philadelphia Sports Club, and Fitness Company to offer a special health initiative, "Fun, Fit & Free! TRIPS," a series of 10-week fictitious trips that offer numerous fitness opportunities, cooking classes and health education opportunities. This initiative has already attracted the attention of the Federal Government.

Gwen's vision is to see Philadelphia emerge as one of the healthiest cities in the nation. She is often heard saying, "Faulty genes may load the gun, but lifestyle pulls the trigger!"