Columbia University Researcher to Keynote Project Runway kickoff at Memorial Hospital

Susan Foster to speak here.

One of the nation’s foremost experts on the prevention and treatment of substance use and addiction among girls and women will address the June 4 kick-off luncheon for Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center’s Project Runway.

Susan E. Foster, vice president and director of Policy Research and Analysis at CASAColumbiaTM, is responsible for multiple studies of substance use and addiction among girls and women. Those studies culminated in the publication of CASAColumbia’s first book, Women under the Influence, in 2006 by The Johns Hopkins University Press.

“Project Runway is based on research directed by Ms. Foster and we are excited and honored that she will help us introduce this initiative to educators and human services partners here in Niagara County,” said Memorial Vice President & COO Sheila K. Kee.

Project Runway is a community based program that employs gender-specific strategies to heighten awareness and prevent drug and alcohol abuse among young women ages 14-24 who reside in Niagara County.

It is being funded through a grant by 'The Peter and Elizabeth C. Tower Foundation.'

Ms. Foster has a Master of Social Work degree in Social Policy from Rutgers University. Prior to  joining CASAColumbia, formerly The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, she served in local and state government human services positions in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Illinois and was a deputy undersecretary for Intergovernmental Affairs in the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare.

She is responsible for a broad range of health and policy research documenting the science of addiction including effective prevention, treatment and disease management strategies, and is credited with developing collaborations, tools and practice guides to translate research results into health care practice and public policy.

The Project Runaway kick-off luncheon will be held June 4 at 12 noon in the Memorial Medical Center Auditorium. For information about Project Runway, call 278-4516.