NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Part of an ongoing series, VUCommodores.com catches up with former Vanderbilt men’s basketball great Jeff Fosnes.
Fosnes scored 1,579 points during his career from 1972-76. He was twice an academic All-America selection and twice named first team All-SEC and led the Commodores to an SEC title in 1974.
Fosnes recently took some time for a Q&A to update his life and career:
VUCommodores.com: What is your occupation these days?
Fosnes: “I have been in family practice since 1983 – six years in Centerville, Tennessee, and 24 years in Springfield, Tennessee. I retired from my office practice at the end of 2013 and expanded on my work as medical director at a skilled nursing facility in Springfield becoming the primary doctor for all residents. Currently I serve as medical director and primary physician for two senior nursing facilities managed by The Waters providing care for 100+ residents on a daily basis.
“I also serve on a medical mission team that serves an orphanage in Jeremie, Haiti, that our church sponsors. We have been going twice a year since 2015, supporting a medical clinic that we built at the orphanage and doing outreach clinics in the area around Jeremie to bring medical care to folks who have no access to care or medicines. Margot and I were supposed to head out with a medical team April 22 but we had to cancel because of the pandemic.
“We’re fearful for what could happen in a place like Haiti where there is little access to clean water, few hospitals and overcrowded living conditions. We are working to make sure that the kids and the families around the orphanage are being educated on hand washing and safe practices and hopefully we will be able to send treatments and vaccines as they become available.”
How has COVID-19 affected you and your family?
“Our biggest hurdle is making sure that we avoid exposure to COVID-19 as my patients are among the most vulnerable to this virus. Our facilities have taken extraordinary precautions since late February to keep infection out, screening staff for temps and symptoms and restricting all visitation. Of course, with the issue of completely asymptomatic persons carrying the virus, it is a difficult task.
“That’s the toughest thing … the constant worry for our patients and wondering each time I receive a call that a patient has a fever if they have been exposed.”
What has been the hardest adjustment?
“By far the hardest thing is not being able to see and spend time with our 18-month-old grandson, Abe.”
What has been the most pleasant surprise in these circumstances?
“Seeing the way people in our community have responded to the needs of our residents, especially since they can’t have visitors and of course many don’t have any family close by. Lots of children and their moms have been making homemade cards for us to share with them and that really brightens their day to know that someone is thinking of them. My neighbor who grows flowers for a CSA here in Robertson County has been leaving trays of flowers each week on our porch for me to take in and share with my patients.
“Living in a small town has always meant that we are a close-knit, caring community, but it has really been apparent these past few weeks.”
Any good books, movies or games to recommend?
“I’m revisiting a book that I read a few years ago A Prayer for the Dying by Stewart O’Nan. I like that it is written in the second person and it is very poignant for the moment.”
What was your all-time favorite moment as a Commodore?
“Winning the SEC Championship in 1974 was definitely my favorite team moment and personally being named twice as an Academic All-American in ‘75 and ‘76.”
What do you miss most in the sports world right now?
“Going to Vanderbilt baseball games. Even the cold weather games where I’m usually the only one in my section.”
Any advice or words of wisdom to Commodore Nation to help us get through this?
“Do the right thing … every day. This is going to be a grind to get through and we just have to keep moving forward.”
Anything else you’d like to say about your time at Vanderbilt or what you’ve been up to since you left?
“I’m particularly grateful right now for the opportunity we had to come back together in January when Vanderbilt honored the 1974 SEC championship team. It was great to reconnect with those guys and reminded us that it was a special group of which we were fortunate to be a part. Losing Joe Ford the way we did made us all a bit more mindful of the special friendships that we had and has prompted everyone to make a little better effort to stay in touch.”
