Make a Difference: The Founder of the "I Have a Future Program" Shares His Vision for Young America

Henry W. Foster, M.D. has spent his entire professional life working to improve the health of people, especially poor people. One of his pet projects has been the "I Have a Future Program" which works to keep teenagers healthy, motivated and in school. Much of the work of the program has to do with sex education and lowering the rate of teenage pregnancy in the US. When Dr. Foster was nominated by President Clinton to be Surgeon General, he was attacked and labeled falsely as an abortion doctor. To his credit, Dr. Foster uses this book to talk about how he became interested in medicine, how he worked to get through his education, and the many aspects of his work that have motivated him, and spends little time defending his innocence. While he was disappointed that he was not confirmed as Surgeon General, he moved right on to the next goals he set for himself. Dr. Foster makes it clear just how much commitment and hard work is required to make a success of oneself, but also stresses how fulfilling it is to work for what one believes in. He also talks in detail about the life of young people, especially young people of color who fail to find something to strive for. The book is well-written and easy to understand. Recommended for young people and adults alike.