Norman L. Foster,
MD
Chief, Division of Cognitive Neurology
Languages Spoken: English
Dr. Norman Foster is a board certified geriatric neurologist who has specialized in brain imaging and dementing and neurodegenerative diseases for over 30 years. In 2005, Dr. Foster’s passion for improving Alzheimer's care brought him to the University of Utah, where he helped establish the first academic clinic in the Intermountain West devoted to caring for Alzheimer's disease and related disorders – the Center for Alzheimer's Care, Imaging and Research (CACIR).
Dr. Foster sees patients in CACIR’s sub-specialty Cognitive Disorders Clinic. His clinical interests include a broad spectrum of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease, frontotemporal dementia, and dementia that is atypical, rapidly progressive, early-onset, focal, or familial.
Dr. Foster also conducts extensive research in cognitive neurology and brain imaging.
Clinical Locations
Imaging and Neurosciences Center
Cognitive Disorders Clinic801-585-7575
Board Certification and Academic Information
| Academic Departments | Neurology
-
Professor Surgery - Adjunct Professor |
| Academic Divisions | Cognitive Neurology Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery |
| Board Certification | American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology (Neurology) United Council for Neurologic Subspecialties (Geriatric Neurology) |
Patient Rating
The Patient Rating score is an average of all responses to care provider related questions on our nationally-recognized Press Ganey Patient Satisfaction Survey.
Responses are measured on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the best score.
Likelihood of recommending care provider
4.6/ 5
Care provider spoke using clear language
4.6/ 5
Care provider's explanation of condition/problem
4.6/ 5
My confidence in care provider
4.6/ 5
Care provider's effort to include me in decisions
4.5/ 5
Wait time at clinic
4.1/ 5
Time care provider spent with me
4.5/ 5
Care provider's concern for questions & worries
4.5/ 5
Care provider's friendliness and courtesy
4.7/ 5
Patient Comments
Patient comments are gathered from our Press Ganey Patient Satisfaction Survery and displayed in their entirety. Patients are de-identified for confidentiality and patient privacy.
UofU Patient
June 25, 2018
we spent the first two hours with physician assistant and only 10 min with the dr. he came in, went over what they had observed and what new scans we needed. we had a few questions and he said: i have other patients to see so i got to go. follow me to the front to check out??? felt very rushed hope he will be better after we have the new scans done.
UofU Patient
June 02, 2018
No bad experiences
UofU Patient
May 08, 2018
All the staff is always 100 % great with us. They always seem to treat all patients and family with great respect and patience.
UofU Patient
May 07, 2018
MD looked at his pager, said he had another patient, did not discuss meds, side effects. LCSW was great. She was informative, pleasant, not in a hurry and said to call with questions. This was the first visit with the MD and then the LCSW when the diagnosis was presented.
UofU Patient
May 04, 2018
i have already referred a business associate to Dr Foster
UofU Patient
March 16, 2018
Dr. Foster is the best!
UofU Patient
March 12, 2018
Provider was patient and willing to explain, listen to opinions, questions.
UofU Patient
February 24, 2018
Dr. Foster took a lot of time explaining the diagnosis and how he came to that conclusion.
UofU Patient
February 19, 2018
He was great once he got into the room. Maybe you should look at scheduling appointments further apart.
UofU Patient
February 19, 2018
Resident was particularly good. Great personality, voice and professionalism. Dr Foster is always a superstar.
UofU Patient
February 14, 2018
Dr. Foster is very knowledgeable and skilled. Also caring.
UofU Patient
December 06, 2017
Too much technical jargon.
UofU Patient
December 04, 2017
All care providers seemed considerate. Dr. Foster was verbally/socially moving at a speed I had difficulty keeping up with.
UofU Patient
November 08, 2017
the providers were very very good.
UofU Patient
November 07, 2017
Too early for decisions and meds. Dr. Foster provided the best explanation of events from _____ history we have heard. Gave me (wife) lots of confidence. _____ liked Dr. Foster.
UofU Patient
September 05, 2017
good
UofU Patient
September 02, 2017
we're finally getting the help we need. thank you U of U
UofU Patient
August 31, 2017
we felt very confident in my dad's diagnosis. the Dr really put us at ease.
UofU Patient
August 21, 2017
he just keep getting beeped for another patient so i maybe had 15 min and with him so I left with questions unanswered so he could get to another patient even my husband was shocked at how fast it was.
UofU Patient
August 05, 2017
I appreciate a written summary of information that we talked about with Dr Foster. Thank you
UofU Patient
August 05, 2017
I can't say enough positives about Dr. Foster. It has been such a relief to speak and ask questions about PSP to someone who understands the disease as well as it can be understood and explain our situation to the point I now have information specific to my husband. I am SO thankful for my sister _____ and brother-in-law, _____ for recommending him to us.
UofU Patient
July 09, 2017
I am a retired professional and tend to interact with MDs and staff on an even level. In this office, they respond in kind and communication is excellent!
UofU Patient
June 09, 2017
Dr. Foster is really good at what he does, we are pleased with his advice. he is not good about the medications, but he recommended geriatric psychology for mom's dementia.
UofU Patient
May 27, 2017
Dr Foster was concerned that done if his explanations we're difficult for us to understand so he sent us to Liz Garcia-Leavitt for extra classification. Thru went above and beyond.
UofU Patient
May 15, 2017
The care provider didn't explain why he didn't need to see us anymore. I walked aware wondering what was going on.
UofU Patient
May 08, 2017
excellent staff
UofU Patient
May 08, 2017
Again, this was more routine than specific. I really wasn't in need of support or encouragement or explanations.
UofU Patient
April 16, 2017
Dr Foster is going to be a great help in diagnosing and caring for my husband. I'm grateful we have him on our side
UofU Patient
April 14, 2017
Dr Foster is exceptional!
UofU Patient
March 17, 2017
Dr. Foster was friendly and very knowledgeable. He had much information and good suggestions for us. His assistance was a very good, too.
UofU Patient
March 13, 2017
We did not receive instructions regarding follow up care and nothing new regarding medications.
UofU Patient
February 02, 2017
Couldn't have been a better experience with the care provider.
UofU Patient
November 04, 2016
I was certainly apprehensive on my first visit but the staff and Drs. quickly put me at ease. I would recommend this clinic to my family and friends.
UofU Patient
October 07, 2016
Dr. Foster and Staff are awesome!
UofU Patient
August 31, 2016
We have been impressed with the time spent making sure we understood.
UofU Patient
August 09, 2016
we are greatfull we have such a competent Doctor
UofU Patient
June 17, 2016
dr foster is a pleasure to work with
UofU Patient
June 08, 2016
I was impressed that Dr. Foster was well informed regarding my husband's history and study results. He took the time to explain findings, his impressions, drug interactions, and recommendations. We look forward to working with him in the future.
UofU Patient
May 08, 2016
This was about previously diagnosed Alzhiemer's . It was really sort of "following progression" session. Medications, for example, just weren't at issue.
UofU Patient
May 08, 2016
Just barely getting to know the new care provider. I'm assuming the 'good' marks will turn to 'excellent' when I get to know him better
UofU Patient
March 15, 2016
Dr. Foster was very knowledgeable, kind, responsive to my questions, and helpful.
UofU Patient
March 15, 2016
Great!
UofU Patient
March 03, 2016
I appreciated the contact made as I was leaving which enabled me to meet with another provider regarding a special program possibility.
UofU Patient
February 29, 2016
Everyone we met with was very kind, helpful, and concerned.
UofU Patient
February 27, 2016
good
UofU Patient
February 26, 2016
Dr. Foster is always concerned and real. He doesn't sugar-coat things and explains them well. I appreciate his sincerity and his professionalism. He is a dedicated professional who cares about his patients.
UofU Patient
February 16, 2016
a good visit. the diagnosis was upgraded and explained well
UofU Patient
October 05, 2015
I UNDERSTAND DR. FOSTER IS EXTREMELY BUSY, BUT MY WIFE IS IN AN EXTREMELY FRAGIL STATE. BUT HAVING TO WAITE "TWO MONTHS" TO DO ANY DEFINITIVE TESTING AFTER BEING TOLD THAT SHE HAS SOME SIGNIFICANT COGNITIVE ISSUES IN PLACE, IS EXTREMELY UPSETTING TO MY WIFE. THEN AFTER THIS TESTING IS DONE, HAVING TO WAITE ANOTHER MONTH TO SEE DR. FOSTER HAS TOTALLY UN- DONE HER AND SHE IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY DEPRESSED NOT KNOWING WHAT LIES AHEAD.
UofU Patient
September 23, 2015
The Dr and all the staff were all great. However, we can't get in for a follow-up with the Dr until jan which is 4 months from the initial appt. That is a ridiculous time frame, especially since we are supposed to wait until then to get the results of labwork and MRI that is being done in sept. The tests will help determine the diagnosis which means we have to wait 4 months to understand what course of care will be recommended. This is not acceptable. They could at least have a resident follow up with us, if the dr is too booked up.
UofU Patient
September 07, 2015
Dr. Foster was very helpful, and Dr. Keown was excellent in doing the neurological exam.
UofU Patient
August 08, 2015
I left the office feeling that was given appropriate information and diagnosis.
UofU Patient
August 03, 2015
It is always a positive experience when we leave after seeing Dr. Norman Foster
UofU Patient
June 15, 2015
The nurses with first rate (very good) at establishing rapport and the doctor was immediately addressing my concerns and correctly evaluated my knowledge base and ability to understand. Actually, at one point I got up and hugged him because he was completely in tune with my concerns, goals and plan for myself.
UofU Patient
February 09, 2015
Visit was not rushed, all our concerns were addressed, overall avery pleasant experience.
UofU Patient
January 27, 2015
the med tech moved thru the first diagnostic too quickly. The other staff were wonderful. Dr Foster,spent time explaining care, concerns and what to expect.i greatly appreciated his help in providing information that was clear and understandable..
UofU Patient
January 26, 2015
First time seeing Dr. Foster. He wants more tests done.
UofU Patient
July 18, 2014
I felt very comfortable with Dr. Foster... He is a very kind man... And he comes across as being very concerned about me, and I'm sure that he is that way with all of his patients...
UofU Patient
June 16, 2014
did not seem very organized and not sure he had all the test results from all the tests. This is a guess, but it seemed that way to me.
UofU Patient
May 19, 2014
after a few brief questions, I was told I probably had Alzheimer's . I'm sure you see many patients but I left feeling like I was doomed after such a brief exam.
UofU Patient
April 06, 2014
Once again we are very lucky to have Norman Foster as a doctor
UofU Patient
March 28, 2014
seem their biggest concern was how good our health insurance was
UofU Patient
February 03, 2014
some uncertainty as who would talk to primary care provider about Rx recommendations.
UofU Patient
January 12, 2014
we like Dr Foster- he presents a very personal, encouraging & caring relationship
UofU Patient
November 14, 2013
Good
UofU Patient
August 19, 2013
We left with no idea of how to proceed; why we needed another mri; just treatment ideas and information etc. We may consult another physician.
UofU Patient
July 31, 2013
Dr Foster appears to be very experienced in dealing with the type of medical problems that my uncle is presenting. Sometimes we wonder what difference it could have made if we had had the chance to have seen him a year or two prior (with hindsight!).
UofU Patient
May 29, 2013
The clinic is excellent in sharing a scary diagnosis in a candid yet compassionate manner. I am grateful for both.
UofU Patient
May 07, 2013
Dr Foster is awesome!
UofU Patient
April 22, 2013
I would recommend the staff to all. They are great
UofU Patient
April 04, 2013
Patient did not feel like she was included in the discussion. Dr. Foster spoke with family instead of directing the conversation to her. She indicated that she felt like a illness instead of a person when he was directing teaching to resident (?).
UofU Patient
March 04, 2013
I believe should have provided more information about what the initial testing revealed. A little bit condescending.
UofU Patient
November 07, 2012
We felt comfortable with the counsel and direction Dr Foster gave to us. We value his expertise and know we are on the right track if we follow his advise.
UofU Patient
October 22, 2012
Dr Foster was awesome. Obviously knows what he is doing and instills confidence. My wife is looking forward to her next visit with him when he expects to confirm with her what is going on. She is comfortable with whatever the outcome is.
UofU Patient
October 18, 2012
dr. foster was very helpful in sorting out my memory loss problem.
UofU Patient
October 08, 2012
We feel we had the very best of care
UofU Patient
October 04, 2012
We had not received the notes from the first visit so we were not fully prepared for the discussion. Dr. Foster had to take more time explaining all of those things at the onset of the discussion. This took up more of his time. He did not seem to rush over anything even though this took longer.
UofU Patient
September 20, 2012
The doctor had a tendency to speak in doctor jargon which was a bit hard to understand. However he was very polite.
UofU Patient
August 09, 2012
Dr. Foster was very personable. He made us feel comfortable about the next steps and required testing for her condition. She was very at ease with him.
UofU Patient
May 21, 2012
Dr Foster has a way of providing pertinent information in a positive way that we can understand. We feel he is sincerely concerned, and highly qualified in his field. We appreciate the care we've received. The care goes beyond diagnosis, to include ways of coping, in a proactive format before needs arise.
UofU Patient
March 19, 2012
We both feel comfortable with the doctor and his team and have extremely high confidence in his capacity and desire to help.
UofU Patient
January 23, 2012
good
Norman L. Foster, M.D., is Professor in the Department of Neurology, Chief of the Division of Cognitive Neurology, Director of the Center for Alzheimer's Care, Imaging and Research (CACIR), and Senior Investigator for the Brain Institute at the University of Utah. He is a member of the Utah Commission on Aging, and a member of the University of Utah Center on Aging steering committee.
Dr. Foster has been nominated by his peers as one of the Best Doctors in America® from 1996 to 2013. He was recognized as a "Health Care Hero" by Utah Business Magazine in 2007 for his clinical innovations at the University of Utah, and he received the ALEXA Award (for a Lifetime of Extraordinary Achievement in Alzheimer’s care and research) from the Utah Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association in 2010. In 2011, Dr. Foster was appointed as a member of the Utah State Governor’s Alzheimer’s State Plan Task Force.
Dr. Foster received his M.D. from the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. After completing his residency in Neurology at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, Dr. Foster relocated to Bethesda, Maryland for a three-year fellowship in Experimental Therapeutics with the National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) at the NIH.
Dr. Foster was a faculty member of the University of Michigan Department of Neurology for over 20 years. During his tenure, he developed the first clinical program for dementing disorders in the state of Michigan, which eventually formed the nucleus of the Clinical Core of the NIH-funded Michigan Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, which Dr. Foster directed for the first 16 years of its funding from 1989 to 2005. He also served as Associate Director of the Michigan ADRC from 1994-2004.
Dr. Foster is a Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology, and a chartered member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honorary Medical Society and the American Neurological Association. He has been a chartered member of the NIH Clinical Neuroscience and Neurodegeneration (CNN) Study Section since 2007, and served as Section Chair from 2010-11.
Dr. Foster’s research focuses primarily on neuroimaging, clinical drug trials, and the clinical pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease and related dementing disorders. This includes the development and application of brain imaging, especially validating imaging in clinical care. Dr. Foster recently led two multi-center NIH-funded trials of FDG-PET imaging to distinguish Alzheimer’s disease from frontotemporal dementia, which led to a decision by Medicare to fund FDG-PET for this indication. His recent work has shown PET's utility in differentiating between Alzheimer's and frontotemporal dementia, and he is currently validating FDG-PET, amyloid PET and other neuroimaging biomarkers. His group is performing quality assurance and PET analysis as part of the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI), the largest Alzheimer's study ever funded by the NIH. In addition to NIH funding, he is planning a randomized, pragmatic clinical comparative effectiveness trial for the evaluation of patients with both dementia and diabetes that will be submitted to PCORI, the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute. He also has been involved in numerous studies examining the process of evaluating dementia. He is a member of the diagnostic consensus panel for the Aging and Demographics and Memory Study (ADAMS) and was elected by the NIH-funded Alzheimer’s Centers to serve on the committee that developed the Uniform Data Set (UDS) now used at all of the Centers as a basis for evaluation and monitoring longitudinal change in cognition. He is CEO of PAMS, Inc., a University of Utah start-up company developing a mobile application to help family members of individuals with memory concerns. Dr. Foster also has been involved with many clinical trials, including investigator-initiated, NIH-funded, and drug company sponsored drug trials.
Academic Locations
650 Komas
801-587-7236
Board Certification and Academic Information
| Academic Departments | Neurology
-
Professor Surgery - Adjunct Professor |
| Academic Divisions | Cognitive Neurology Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery |
| Board Certification | American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology (Neurology) United Council for Neurologic Subspecialties (Geriatric Neurology) |
Research Interests
- Neurodegenerative Disorders
- Alzheimer's Disease
- Brain Imaging
- Frontotemporal Dementia
- PET Markers in Dementia
Education History
| Fellowship | National Institute of Neurological & Communicative Disorders Medical Therapeutics Fellow |
| Residency | University of Utah School of Medicine Neurology Resident |
| Internship | Jewish Hospital of St. Louis, Washington Univ Medical Center Medicine Intern |
| Professional Medical | Washington University Medicine M.D. |
| Undergraduate | MacMurray College Biology and Chemistry B.A. |
Selected Publications - Journal Articles
Journal Article
- Johnson KA, Minoshima S, Bohnen NI, Donohoe KJ, Foster NL, Herscovitch P, Karlawish JH, Rowe CC, Carrillo MC, Hartley DM, Hedrick S, Pappas V, Thies WH (2013). Appropriate use criteria for amyloid PET: a report of the Amyloid Imaging Task Force, the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, and the Alzheimer's Association. Alzheimers Dement, 9(1), e-1-16.
- Johnson KA, Minoshima S, Bohnen NI, Donohoe KJ, Foster NL, Herscovitch P, Karlawish JH, Rowe CC, Hedrick S, Pappas V, Carrillo MC, Hartley DM (2013). Update on appropriate use criteria for amyloid PET imaging: dementia experts, mild cognitive impairment, and education. J Nucl Med, 54(7), 1011-3.
- Kauwe JS, Ridge PG, Foster NL, Cannon-Albright LA (2013). Strong evidence for a genetic contribution to late-onset Alzheimer's disease mortality: a population-based study. PLoS One, 8(10), e77087.
- Womack KB, Diaz-Arrastia R, Aizenstein HJ, Arnold SE, Barbas NR, Boeve BF, Clark CM, Decarli CS, Jagust WJ, Leverenz JB, Peskind ER, Turner RS, Zamrini EY, Heidebrink JL, Burke JR, Dekosky ST, Farlow MR, Gabel MJ, Higdon R, Kawas CH, Koeppe RA, Lipton AM, Foster NL (2011). Temporoparietal Hypometabolism in Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration and Associated Imaging Diagnostic Errors. Arch Neurol, 68(3), 329-37.
- Gabel MJ, Foster NL, Heidebrink JL, Higdon R, Aizenstein HJ, Arnold SE, Barbas NR, Boeve BF, Burke JR, Clark CM, Dekosky ST, Farlow MR, Jagust WJ, Kawas CH, Koeppe RA, Leverenz JB, Lipton AM, Peskind ER, Turner RS, Womack KB, Zamrini EY (2010). Validation of consensus panel diagnosis in dementia. Arch Neurol, 67(12), 1506-12.
- Jagust WJ, Bandy D, Chen K, Foster NL, Landau SM, Mathis CA, Price JC, Reiman EM, Skovronsky D, Koeppe RA, Alzheimers Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (2010). The Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative positron emission tomography core. Alzheimer's & Dementia, 6(3), 221-9.
- Foster NL, Heidebrink JL, Clark CM, Jagust WJ, Arnold SE, Barbas NR, DeCarli CS, Turner RS, Koeppe RA, Higdon R, Minoshima S (2007). FDG-PET improves accuracy in distinguishing frontotemporal dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Brain, 130(Pt 10), 2616-35.
Book Chapter
- Foster NL (2012). Neuroimaging. In Weiner MF, Lipton AM (Eds.), Clinical Manual of Alzheimer Disease and Other Dementias (pp. 89-126). Washington DC: American Psychiatric Publishing, Inc.
- Foster NL (2011). Molecular Imaging in Neuropsychiatry. In Coffey CE, Cummings JL (Eds.), The American Psychiatric Publishing Textbook of Geriatric Neuropsychiatry (3rd Ed, pp. 177-209). Washington: American Psychiatric Publishing, Inc.
- Foster NL (2009). Neuroimaging. In Weiner MF, Lipton AM (Eds.), The American Psychiatric Publishing Textbook of Alzheimer Disease and Other Dementias (pp. 105-136). Washington: American Psychiatric Publishing, Inc.
Editorial
Abstract
- Gerard Bischof, Peter Bartenstein, Henryk Barthel, Bart Van Berckel, Vincent Dore, Thilo Van Eimeren, Norman Foster, Jochen Hammes, Adriaan Lammertsma, Satoshi Minoshima, Christopher Rowe, Osama Sabri, John Seibyl, Koen Van Laere, Rik Vandenberghe, Victor Villemagne, Igor Yakushev, amp Alexander Drzezga (05/30/2018). Comparing Amyloid PET Tracers and Interpretation Strategies: First Results from the CAPTAINs Study [Abstract]. J Nucl Med, 2018(59), 485.