THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, February 2, 1995 TAG: 9502020427
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium: 59 lines
Dr. Henry Foster Jr., a medical school leader known for fighting teenage pregnancy in Tennessee, is President Clinton's choice for surgeon general, officials said Wednesday.
Foster, 61, former acting president of a predominantly black medical school, would replace Dr. Joycelyn Elders, an outspoken Arkansas pediatrician who was fired in December after saying school children should be taught about masturbation. The Senate must confirm his nomination.
White House aides, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the announcement was scheduled for today. They said Foster would lead a national campaign to combat teenage pregnancy.
Foster founded Meharry Medical College's ``I Have A Future'' program, aimed at delaying sexual activity among teenagers by building their self-esteem, developing job skills and teaching sexual responsibility, self-control and how to deal with conflicts in relationships.
The program, operating out of two Nashville housing projects, also offers comprehensive health services, emphasizing primary health care, physical exams, screening for sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancy tests and distribution of contraceptives.
Foster, a Nashville obstetrician-gynecologist, began the program seven years ago with start-up money from the Carnegie Foundation. It has grown to serve about 150 youths each week.
Clinton, in his State of the Union address, called teenage pregnancy the nation's most serious social problem and urged parents and community leaders to join a national campaign ``to make a difference.'' Aides say the campaign will involve few new initiatives, but Clinton hopes to get more people interested and involved in the issue.
The nation's surgeon generals usually receive substantial attention for their remarks on health issues - from AIDS prevention to anti-smoking crusades. But the job actually is several rungs down in the Department of Health and Human Services hierarchy, and holds little direct authority over health programs and policy.
Like Elders and Clinton, Foster has Arkansas ties. He was born in Pine Bluff and earned his medical degree from the University of Arkansas.
Elders' support of distributing contraceptives to students and her strong abortion-rights views drew criticism from conservatives. Friends and associates predicted Foster wouldn't be as provocative as Elders.
``One of his strengths is he is sensitive to a balanced approach - to the concerns of a number of groups in our society even though he's a supporter of Planned Parenthood,'' said Shelby Tabeling, Planned Parenthood's associate executive director in Nashville. ILLUSTRATION: Dr. Henry Foster Jr., is expected to lead a national campaign to
combat teen pregnancy.
KEYWORDS: SURGEON GENERAL NOMINEE TEEN PREGNANCY by CNB