Stone Gardens: Dr. Miles Everett Foster Sr.- Pioneer surgeon, war hero, and co-founder of Cooper Clinic in Fort Smith

Dr. Miles Everett Foster Sr.

Dr. Miles Everett Foster Sr., co-founder and senior surgeon of Cooper Clinic in Fort Smithwas born on January 4, 1887, in Witcherviille.

The son of Dr. James H. Foster and Christine Irene Foster. He died on June 14, 1966, in Fort Smith at the age of 79.

A dedicated physician who specialized in general practice --with a particular expertise in plastic surgery--Dr. Foster left an indelible mark on healthcare in the Arkansas River Valley through his clinical leadership, surgical skill, and community service.

Foster graduated as valedictorian from Fort Smith High School. He went on to earn his medical degree from Jefferson Medical School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (class of 1909), where he was a member of the Nu Sigma Nu Medical Fraternity.

He completed an internship and residency at Atlantic City General Hospital in New Jersey, followed by a surgical residency at Jefferson Medical College Hospital. His early career path reflected the rigorous training typical of ambitious physicians of the era.

In 1911, Dr. Foster began his practice in Fort Smith. That same year, he married Mary Lynn Iler of Shreveport, Louisiana. The couple raised three children: Dr. Miles E. Foster Jr. of North Platte, Nebraska; Robert I. Foster of Fort Smith; and Mrs. Eva Foster Whitehead of Houston, Texas.

Dr. Miles E. Foster also became a physician and built a medical career in Nebraska before he died in 1978. His body was returned to Fort Smith and buried near his father at Forest Park.

With the onset of World War I, Dr. Foster entered military service as a Captain in the Medical Corps. He served with the 42nd General Hospital Center as Executive Officer and Chief of Plastic Surgery. Dr. Miles Everett Foster Sr.: Pioneer Surgeon, War Hero, and Co-Founder of Cooper Clinic+For his service in the European Theater, he was awarded the Croix de Guerre and a Commendation Ribbon.

After the war, he returned to Fort Smith, where he resumed his civilian practice.

In 1920, Dr. Foster partnered with Dr. St. Cloud Cooper and others to establish Cooper Clinic, one of the region’s earliest multi-specialty group practices. Drawing inspiration from models like the Mayo Clinic, the clinic emphasized collaborative care, specialized expertise, and efficient diagnostics.

Dr. Foster served as vice director initially and later as senior member and senior surgeon. At the time of his retirement, he remained a pillar of the institution he helped build. He also served as president of Cooper Clinic and as chief-of-staff of St. Edward Mercy Hospital on multiple occasions.

A Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, Dr. Foster was actively involved in professional organizations, including the Sebastian County Medical Society (president in 1936), the Arkansas Medical Society, and the American Medical Association. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, the Hardscrabble Country Club, and enjoyed golf, fishing, reading, and horses in his leisure time.

Dr. Miles Everett Foster Sr. was laid to rest in Forest Park Cemetery in Fort Smith, a historic burial ground home to more than 26,000 interments.

His life of service--from rural Arkansas roots and elite medical training, through wartime surgery and pioneering clinic work--exemplifies the dedication that advanced healthcare in western Arkansas and beyond. He is remembered not only as a skilled surgeon but as a community leader who helped shape modern medical practice in the region.