Dr. Foust comes home

A Coudersport native has come home to join the surgical staff at Charles Cole Memorial Hospital.

Dr. Terry Foust will begin his affiliation with Cole on Monday. He specializes in orthopedic surgery with emphasis on spine and trauma procedures.

Foust will become a member of the Champion Ort hopedics and Sports Medicine team, joining Dr. Bradley Giannotti and Dr. Seth Shifrin at their offices in Coudersport and Olean, N.Y. He will also serve patients at Cole's satellite offices in Westfield, Port Allegany and Emporium.

Dr. Foust graduated from Penn State University and the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. He completed his internship and residency at Pinnacle Health System in Harrisburg, where he most recently served as chief resident.

Before going to medical school, he worked as a physical therapist assistant.

Foust said he looks forward to seeing a broad spectrum of patients that a rural setting allows.

"In a small hospital, patients benefit from the personal touch and they know that they're more than just a number in a huge system," he said. "Dr. Giannotti and Dr. Shifrin are incredible physicians. The physician assistants and staff are also top notch and I have learned first-hand that (this is not always) found in larger health care systems . . . I'm where I want to be and doing what I want to do."

"It's not often that a community has the chance to welcome home someone like Dr. Foust," said Ed Pitchford, Cole president and CEO. "Our hospital is very fortunate."

Spinal surgery patients should be referred to Dr. Foust through their primary care physician. Surgical patients have typically gone through tests and treatment that may have included physical therapy, injections, x-rays, and MRIs to show that surgery is needed.

For more information on Dr. Foust's services, call 274- 0900.