former Secretary of Health, Philippines; Founding Director Philippine Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP)

Stan would attend the yearly FETP conferences of the directors of the FETP when they convened at CDC, Atlanta during the week of the EIS conference. As founding director of the Philippine FETP, I attended these conferences from 1986-1996. We would organize “international night” when trainees/fellows of the various FETPs would give presentations and receive recognition for outstanding work. Stan took an interest in our conferences. He was a comfortable, reassuring presence, and a fountain for knowledge and experience for anyone who would engage him in formal discussions or informal conversation. I will remember his competence, humility, generosity, and warmth. In this present day pandemic, we need more epidemiologists in the mould of Stan Foster to lead their countries in their pandemic control efforts.