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Become a member and receive career-enhancing benefits

Our top priority is providing value to members. Your Member Services team is here to ensure you maximize your ACS member benefits, participate in College activities, and engage with your ACS colleagues. It's all here.

Become a Member
Become a member and receive career-enhancing benefits

Our top priority is providing value to members. Your Member Services team is here to ensure you maximize your ACS member benefits, participate in College activities, and engage with your ACS colleagues. It's all here.

Become a Member
ACS
ACS Fellow Since 2011

Shannon Foster, MD FACS

Board Certification

  • American Board of Surgery - General Surgery

Society Memberships

  • E. Assn, Surg of Trauma
  • Am Assn for Surg of Traum
  • Assn of Women Surgeons
  • Soc of Critical Care Med

Additional Information

Gender

Female

Type of Practice

Hospital Based

General Surgery

Contact Information

Biography

Biography Summary Shannon Marie Foster MD FACS Executive Committee Board of Governors Communications Pillar Lead and Integrated Communications Liaison Shannon Marie Foster is teaching faculty for more than one institution in Pennsylvania. She provides clinical and consultative support to several other growing trauma centers and systems. Dr. Foster is the Director and Executive of SMF Coverage & Solutions, Professional LLC, a referral-only company focusing on expert and quality review, professional development, and procedural and policy growth. She is a mediator and mitigator for confidential complex workplace and transitional situations. SM Foster is originally from Akron Ohio and completed her undergraduate education at the University of Akron. She remained in Ohio to pursue her medical degree at the Medical College of Ohio in Toledo. Relocation to Rochester, Minnesota allowed completion of both General Surgery Residency and Surgical Critical Care Fellowship at the Mayo Clinic. Whilst at Mayo, administrative and leadership opportunities, along with community outreach and advocacy became a focus of her training and extra clinical efforts which continue to this day. Dr. Foster worked at Reading Hospital Trauma Center via the University of Pennsylvania from 2009-2020. Integral to the development of the Acute Care Surgery line, the safety-net community clinic and the evolution to a Level 1 ACS verified Trauma Center, she led trauma clinical services and performance improvement initiatives, as well as, holding a number of hospital and system-based leadership positions throughout those years. By 2020, opportunities to pursue independent work in the realm of external quality consulting, legal review, peer review services, and professional development prompted transition and creation of an independent consulting company. She remains an awarded and avid teacher, mentor, and advocate. Dr. Foster is actively engaged in national professional organizations to advance the field. She holds national positions in multiple societies but is most heavily committed to the goals of the American College of Surgeons – both locally as Past-President of the Keystone Chapter and nationally as an elected Governor-At-Large for the state of Pennsylvania - acting as executive for the Communications Pillar and liaison and editorial member to multiple ACS Committees and publications. Dr. Foster focuses on the development of stewardship opportunities and is dedicated to furthering the voice and needs of both surgeons and patients. Current positions with the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma, the Association of Women Surgeons, and several other organizations align with and further these efforts and collaborations.

Subspecialties and Areas of Clinical Concentration

Breast Disease/Cancer

  • axillary dissection
  • benign breast disease
  • breast biopsy
  • breast cancer
  • breast cancer reconstruction
  • breast ultrasound
  • core needle biopsy
  • duct excision/microdochotomy
  • lumpectomy
  • lymph node biopsy
  • mastectomy
  • radical mastectomy
  • sentinel node
  • stereotactic breast biopsy

Critical Care

Abdomen and Digestion Disorder/Procedure

  • abdominal pain
  • adhesion removal
  • appendectomy
  • feeding tubes
  • gastric cancer
  • malrotation
  • peptic ulcer disease
  • peritonitis
  • splenectomy

Hernia Procedures

  • abdominal hernia
  • component separation
  • femoral hernia
  • inguinal hernia
  • laparoscopic hernia repair
  • umbilical hernia
  • ventral hernia

Skin & Soft Tissue Disorders/Procedures

  • cellulitis
  • component separation
  • decubitus ulcer
  • epidermal cyst
  • skin and soft tissue infections
  • skin biopsy
  • skin gland tumors
  • skin grafting
  • tissue flaps
  • wound infections

Anal-rectal Disorders/Procedures

  • anal abscess
  • anal fissure
  • anal fistula
  • anal tears
  • anal warts
  • hemorrhoid problems
  • rectal bleeding
  • rectal prolapse
  • sphincter repair

Colon and Rectal Disorders/Cancer

  • anal abscess
  • anal cancer
  • biopsy of tumors
  • colectomy
  • colon cancer screening
  • colon surgery
  • colon/rectal cancer
  • colonic polyps
  • colonoscopy
  • colostomy
  • Crohn's disease
  • diverticular disease
  • esophagogastroduodenoscopy
  • gastrointestinal bleeding
  • gastrointestinal cancer
  • hemorrhoidectomy
  • ileostomy
  • intussusception
  • laparoscopic colon surgery
  • Meckel's diverticulum
  • stomach cancer
  • ulcerative colitis

Minimally Invasive Procedures

Trauma/Injury Procedures

  • abdominal injuries
  • abdominal wall reconstruction
  • amputation
  • bladder injury
  • blunt trauma
  • bronchoscopy
  • burns
  • cardiac injury
  • chest injuries
  • cricothyroidotomy
  • extremity injury
  • female reproductive tract injury
  • foot/leg injury
  • hand/arm injury
  • intestine injuries
  • kidney injury
  • liver injury
  • liver resection
  • lung resections
  • neck injuries
  • reconstructive surgery
  • skin grafting
  • stomach injuries
  • tracheotomy
  • vascular injuries
  • wound debridement

Hospital Appointments

The Reading Hospital and Medical Center

Reading PA,

Attending

07/2009—06/2010

Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia PA,

Attending

07/2009—06/2010

Academic Appointments

University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine

Philadelphia, PA

Clinical Assistant Professor

07/2009—06/2016

Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine

Philadelphia, PA

Clinical Assistant Professor

11/2014—06/2016