Jody Foster

Jody J. Foster, MD, MBA, a Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and Chair of the Department of Psychiatry at Pennsylvania Hospital, leads the Professionalism Program at Penn Medicine as the Executive Clinical Director. Her clinical practice includes general psychiatry, with a special emphasis on treating acute inpatients, psychopharmacology, and corporate development that provides support and evaluation services to executives.

After receiving her medical degree from the Medical College of Pennsylvania in a combined and accelerated BA/MD program with Lehigh University, Dr. Foster completed both a residency and a chief residency in psychiatry and a fellowship in clinical psychopharmacology and mood disorders at The Institute of Pennsylvania Hospital. She also attained her masters of business administration, with a concentration in finance, from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Foster is a Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, a member of the American College of Psychiatrists and the American College of Physician Executives, and was elected to Penn Medicine's inaugural class of the Academy of Master Clinicians.

Dr. Foster serves as the Executive Medical Director of Penn Behavioral Health Corporate Services, a division of the Department of Psychiatry that includes its own employee assistance program and administrative services organization. She also leads the Professionalism Committees at the member hospitals of the University of Pennsylvania Health System. In addition to her responsibilities as Chair and her administrative duties at Penn Behavioral Health, Dr. Foster presently acts as Medical Director of Psychiatric Inpatient Services at Pennsylvania Hospital. Prior to her appointment as Chair of the Department of Psychiatry at Pennsylvania Hospital, Dr. Foster functioned in numerous administrative roles at the Hospital including Interim Chair of the Department of Psychiatry; Director of Adult Treatment Services; Medical Director of the Outpatient Clinic; and Director of Electroconvulsive Therapy Services.

Dr. Foster is a noted educator and has received The Dr. Henry P. & M. Page Durkee Laughlin Foundations National Psychiatric Endowment Award, The J. Martin Myers Award, The Earl Bond Award, The Blockley-Osler Award, and The Dean’s Award, all for clinical excellence and teaching at the University of Pennsylvania. She has also received numerous residency teaching awards and has been named a “Top Doc” by Philadelphia Magazine. Dr. Foster is board-certified in psychiatry and has served as an examiner for the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.