About Me
My key Features
About the Medical Crusader
#1
About J.R.
I’m J.R. Foster, a medical student and future physician training in Mobile, Alabama. I built MedicalCrusader.com to share the journey of becoming a doctor, to showcase my work in clinical medicine and research, and to reflect on the habits and disciplines that make us better healers and human beings. Medicine, like judo, demands persistence, humility, and a willingness to step back on the mat after every fall. This site is where I chronicle that process.
#2
Who I Am
I’m currently a medical student in the United States with a growing passion for Pulmonary/Critical Care. I enjoy thinking through complex cases from first principles pathophysiology, hemodynamics, and mechanism of disease. I enjoy translating that knowledge into simple and decisive bedside action.
I hold a black belt in judo and have spent years training, competing, and coaching on the mat with high-level Olympic coaches and athletes. Judo has shaped how I approach medicine. Some of those things include balance under pressure, respect for the person in front of you, and the understanding that small, well‑timed adjustments can completely change an outcome.
#3
What “Medical Crusader” Means
“Medical Crusader” is my shorthand for a particular way of approaching this vocation. It means being relentless about learning the science, honesty about uncertainty, and willingness to advocate fiercely for patients when they’re at their most vulnerable. It reflects my conviction that medicine is more than a job. It’s a calling that touches the moral, intellectual, and spiritual dimensions of life. On this site, you’ll see those themes show up consistently.
#4
How I Think and Learn
I learn and teach by starting from the concept of first-principles. I like to understand the basic physiology, define the key variables, and then build up to clinical decisions. Whether I’m breaking down a ventilation strategy, a resuscitation plan, or a judo throw, I’m interested in the “why” beneath the “what.” My goal is to keep sharpening that way of thinking and to share it openly so others can benefit from the process.
#5
What You’ll Find on This Site
Research & Publications – Summaries of my projects, posters, and papers, written in clear language with an emphasis on clinical relevance.
Clinical Reflections – Summaries of my projects, posters, and papers, written in clear language with an emphasis on clinical relevance.
Judo – Lessons from training, competition, and coaching.
Philosophy – Occasional essays on the intersection of ethics, suffering, and the practice of modern medicine.