Marina Foster, BA

Marina Foster, BA, serves as the Research Project Coordinator at the ACUTE Center for Eating Disorders and Severe Malnutrition. She has been with ACUTE since 2018, initially joining as an Operations Support Specialist before transitioning to her current role in 2022. In her work, Marina oversees research projects, contributes to study design and implementation and ensures rigorous data management to support the center’s mission of improving care for patients with severe eating disorders.

Marina earned her Bachelor of Arts in Biological Anthropology from the University of Hawaii at Hilo and a Graduate Certificate in Public Health from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. She also holds a Community Health Worker Certificate from Hawaii Community College. Prior to ACUTE, she worked with homeless families and individuals in rural Hawaii, supporting those with mental health challenges to access housing and community resources.

Marina’s research at ACUTE focuses on severe eating disorders, Uric Acid Levels in Adult Patients with Severe Eating Disorders and Evaluation of Mean Plasma Glucose Levels Using HbA1C in Patients with Severe Eating Disorders. In addition to her research, Marina serves on the University of Colorado Clinical Advisory Panel (CTAP) and the Colorado Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute, contributing her expertise to advance clinical and translational studies.

Prior to this, she conducted research on resilience in populations exposed to natural hazards, drawing on her experience working with communities in Hawaii affected by tropical storms and lava flows.

Marina also serves on the University of Colorado Clinical Advisory Panel (CTAP) and the Colorado Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute.

Marina finds working at ACUTE deeply meaningful, especially the opportunity to be part of a team that addresses a highly stigmatized area of medicine while supporting women in an empowering workplace environment.

Outside of work, she enjoys gardening, reading, building her personal library and spending time with her family in nature, particularly near water.