(Editor’s note: This is the third of six stories honoring the NKyTribune’s ’26 NewsMakers of the year.)
By Laura Kroeger
NKyTribune staff writer
Few people hold as many titles in Northern Kentucky as Terry Foster: emergency nurse, author, comedian, hospital ambassador, volunteer, TV star, life squad member, international speaker, humanitarian, father and grandfather. Now he can add 2026 Newsmaker Award winner.
For 50 years Terry Foster, MSN, RN, (as well as CCRN, TCRN, CPEN, CEN, FAEN) has influenced countless lives with his expertise in the ER. He has a knack for putting patients at ease and when appropriate, infusing a bit of levity.
“I once took a break after a long morning in the ER when I came across a very pregnant woman and her husband who was carrying a suitcase,” Terry recalls. “When I told her she was in the wrong part of the hospital, but I could wheel her to the right place, she informed me she was here to be ‘seduced.’ I tried not to laugh and her husband said, ‘honey, I think that happened nine months ago. I think you mean induced.’”
That’s one of the many stories Terry uses when he headlines comedy shows to help non-profits raise money. His first was in 2003 at the Funny Bone in Newport, a fundraiser for breast cancer awareness. Since then he has performed for church groups, Catholic Charities, PTA groups, senior adult centers and corporate healthcare conferences. Terry emphasizes that his humor is HIPPA-compliant, never vulgar and does not cross ethical lines; it focuses on the unscripted, human things patients say in moments of pain, anxiety or confusion. He has kept a yellow legal pad in his locker since 1979 so he can jot down memorable patient quotes.
Terry originally wanted to be a physician. He grew up on a farm in Taylor Mill, one of six boys. His mother worked nights at St. Elizabeth as a registration clerk. “She told me as only a parent could, ‘you’re not going to lay around the house all summer.’ So I took the Red Cross course and they placed me as a volunteer transporter. The guy who helped me figure things out is still a friend today.” He became a nurse. “I never knew a guy could be a nurse. At that time, men were doctors; women were nurses.” It was 1973.
“I worked as a teenage volunteer at night and was sent one evening to help in the ER. I was in love as soon as I went down there. I loved the action. The drama. I loved watching the nurses, their knowledge, how they were patient advocates. I told myself that this is what I want to do.”
He started his medical journey by earning a LPN in 1977 from Booth Memorial Hospital School of Practical Nursing, then located in Covington. After working in both the Emergency Department and Intensive Care Unit, he received his RN diploma from The Christ Hospital School of Nursing followed by a Master’s degree in critical care and trauma nursing from the University of Cincinnati College of Nursing and Health.
Early on, Terry worked for the Taylor Mill Life Squad in addition to employment as a St. Elizabeth ward clerk on the weekends. His father was a police officer. One night his dad received a distress call. Every first responder was needed at a horrendous fire at the Beverly Hills Supper Club. Terry couldn’t get to the station vehicles in time so he drove to the scene.
While people in their formal attire were walking down the hill, Terry ran up Mock Road to assist at the scene. As an LPN student he was taught on the spot to administer breathing treatments to smoke inhalation patients. Seeing the victims was traumatic for every medical professional. It was a defining early career event for Terry, shaping his understanding of patient advocacy and disaster response.
“Our instructors got us together and told us that seeing all the charred bodies would probably be the worst thing we’d see as medical professionals. It was. Even worse than the Air Canada crash landing in 1983 and leading a response team to Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Until COVID hit. People died every day. We had a young woman in the ER who was in poor condition with cancer. Her parents begged to see her. To help, I took a picture of the gal on my phone and brought it out to her parents. It was the last time they saw her. Every year, on the anniversary of her daughter’s passing, the mother sends me a copy of the photo with a note of thanks.”
Terry also works as an ambassador for St. Elizabeth through the Foundation. Carri Chandler, Foundation President, says, “For nearly 50 years Terry has practiced nursing with an integrity which has set him apart. His work is grounded in a deep and abiding faith shaping the way he moves through the world, with humility, compassion, humor and an unwavering commitment to improving the lives of others. He is a trusted clinician and a tireless, devoted Foundation colleague, but his true distinction lies in the way he cares for people. He leads without pretense, consistently putting others first and offering both skill and presence.
“Outside of work, he shows the same generosity of spirit. On weekends, he is volunteering at Parish Kitchen, organizing the Northern Kentucky Nurses Honor Guard, celebrating nurses who have passed, in his kitchen making lasagna and baking multiple delicious Mountain Dew cakes (his mother’s special recipe) to share with friends, community workers, fundraising events and colleagues at community gatherings. It is an expression of a life oriented toward generosity and selfless giving.”
Terry is driven to give back to a community that surrounded him with love when his dear wife Peggy passed away in 1995 from leukemia after just eight years of marriage. He was suddenly a widower with a four-year-old daughter.
While parents and in-laws assisted, little Meredith was and is the light of Terry’s life. He had a bit of trouble with hair ribbons matching her clothes and hair brushing, but he was present at her activities, making sure he was a large, steady presence in her life. Meredith adamantly declares, “He was always there for me.”
“The only time Meredith was irritated was when she started school and complained every other girl had the same dress as hers. I had to then explain Catholic School attire,” Terry recalls with a big smile.
Terry has now celebrated 50 years as a St. Elizabeth nurse. He’s been a clinical nurse specialist since 1998, never leaving his bedside clinical work in the ER for other units. He is recognized almost everywhere he goes. When in a grocery store lately he heard, “Hey Mr. Terry. You took care of my mom.” He hears that a lot.
Last month he entered a patient’s room at the Covington facility. The woman was talking on the phone and turned to recognize Terry from long ago. “Mr. Terry, you are still working as a nurse!” Terry replied, “Geraldine, you’re still coming here as a patient!” They both laughed.
Such patients are what Terry considers “frequent flyers.” But there is never any judgment. He prays for all patients and gives each one his unparalleled care.
During the holidays he was checking in a patient in the hallway at the Edgewood ER. Like ERs across the nation, they can get overloaded quickly. He calls it “hallway medicine.” A 92-year-old woman says, “You look like that guy who worked here a long time ago.” Before Terry could say anything she asked, “Are you his father?” Terry responded, “No, ma’am. That’s me. I’m still here.” She replies, unfiltered, “Honey, you have really aged.”
The comment didn’t bother Terry. He has lived a full life and has no plans to stop. In addition to his comedy performances, he has been the only nurse featured on the Learning Channel’s national TV show, “Untold Stories of the ER.” He appeared in 10 episodes over the past decade and just filmed another in June.
He is also a prolific writer. Terry has authored more than 40 professional publications in various textbooks as well as nursing and healthcare journals. An in-demand speaker, he has lectured on a variety of clinical topics at nursing seminars and conferences in all 50 states. He is also called upon to open or close events using his unique style of ER humor. Terry has delivered over 5,000 formal presentations with more on the way.
In 2023 he served as president of the Emergency Nurses Association. Terry was the recipient of the Judith Kelleher Award, the highest honor given by the Association. Then he was inducted as a Fellow into the Academy of Emergency Nursing, an internationally appointed group of accomplished emergency nursing leaders from around the world.
Cathy Halloran, founder of CHICKS & CHUCKS, Inc., is one of Northern Kentucky’s premier supporters of those with breast cancer. The 100% volunteer organization is run with her sister Cheryl, the other chick.
“I kept crossing paths with Terry Foster,” Cathy recalls. “He is the funniest guy I have ever known. He is also passionate about helping others. Terry headlined our program at The Funny Bone. We have an upcoming comedy show that sold out well in advance because they wanted to hear Terry. They like his comedy, but they also like to hear about his compassion and dedication. What a great steward of God!
“He also is one of St. Elizabeth’s best good-will ambassadors. God knew what he was doing when he made Terry. As part of the Foundation’s annual program at Dillard’s, he would dress as Santa and I would be the unruly Elf. Terry has dressed as the Easter bunny for the hospice Easter egg hunt. I, of course, was the chick.
“Terry’s done between eight and 10 shows for us. Then he’ll find the time to make casseroles for garbage workers during COVID or bundle silent auction gifts of his mother’s famous Mountain Dew cake, the recipe and a Kroger gift card to buy all of the ingredients.
“He is so gracious and giving that he makes the rest of us look bad,” she jokes. “He is the main sentence and I am just the comma.
“Terry is long overdue for this Newsmaker honor. It is very, very well deserved.”
Adds Carri Chandler, “Terry lives his values with consistence and grace. He is an extraordinary nurse and an equally extraordinary human. And he keeps his colleagues in stitches. No matter how many times his stories are told, they never get old.”
Upon learning he was a Newsmaker recipient, Terry was full of humility and did not feel worthy.
“I have lived and worked here all my life. I want Northern Kentucky to flourish. I have a servant life. It is truly an honor and I just want to continue to help where I can,” says the humble RN. “Every day is a gift.”
Terry’s daughter Meredith Hitter is now 35 and a nurse, just like her parents. She teaches at Thomas More University. When she married in 2020 she wore her late mother’s wedding dress and cathedral veil. It fit perfectly. Since it was COVID, only 30 people could attend the ceremony. But outside, over 100 friends had balloons, signs and noise makers.
Meredith and her husband Mike Casey are the parents of Ruby, 4½ and Charlie, 2. Another baby is due in December. They are the focus of Terry’s life. He adores babysitting. Known as Pappy, he spends hours entertaining the youngsters.
“Dad is so worthy of the NewsMaker Award,” says Meredith. “He’s worthy because of who he is — always going above and beyond in everything he does. A true servant-leader, our family calls him ‘the energizer bunny.’ We can’t believe all that he has been able to accomplish. He is amazing. But of course I am funnier and better looking.”
She’s definitely her father’s daughter.
(Celebrate Terry Foster and other NewsMakers at free breakfast-by-the bite (with coffee) reception and awards presentation on October 7, 8-10 a.m., at Wenzel Distillery Event Center, 412 Madison Ave., Covington. All welcome.)
