Dr. Jeff Foster dedicated his career to improving healthcare access in rural Tennessee, focusing on enhancing optometry's role as primary eye care providers. Graduating from the Southern College of Optometry in 1981, he joined Vision Source in Newport, making significant contributions to the field.

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Dr. Foster played a crucial role in expanding the scope of optometric practice as the former legislative chair of the Tennessee Association of Optometric Physicians. Having held leadership positions—including former president of the Tennessee Association of Optometric Physicians, the Tennessee Academy of Optometry, and chair of the Tennessee Board of Examiners in Optometry—Dr. Foster received many prestigious awards, such as the Tennessee Association of Optometric Physicians (TAOP) Young Optometrist of the Year in 1984, Optometrist of the Year in 1986, and Optometrist of the Decade in 2014.

Beyond his professional achievements, Dr. Foster demonstrated a strong commitment to community leadership in Newport. Active in various organizations, he served on the Courtesy/Consultative Staff of Tennova Newport Medical Center until his passing from COVID-19 in August 2020.

Dr. Foster exemplified the ethos of service encouraged by the Southern College of Optometry and now joins fellow outstanding alumni in the TICUA Hall of Fame.