Published: February 21, 2023
Helping patients with cancer live more comfortably often can weigh heavy on Rikka S. Foster’s heart and mind.
As a medical assistant at Norton Cancer Institute Women’s Cancer Center, Rikka helps care for patients who have breast cancer and some who are in palliative care. According to Rikka, she wants to be there for every step of a patient’s cancer journey. She supports patients, prays for them and advocates for them when they are going through possibly the worst time in their lives.
For Rikka, faith is her guiding light.
“My motivation is God first,” Rikka said. “He’s head of my life. I wake up in the mornings and I pray, and he guides me in a positive direction.”
In her 10 years as part of the caring team at Norton Cancer Institute, Rikka has been a guide for her fellow employees and a faithful patient advocate. Above all else, Rikka approaches every situation she faces with love and patience.
It’s not surprising that Rikka’s faith also guides her to get involved in her community. She volunteers within Norton Healthcare for various events and activities and participates in Synergy, Norton Healthcare’s African American employee resource group. Outside of work, she is a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, a Masonic group guided by faith to serve the world.
To Rikka, Black History Month is a time to celebrate the past and look forward to the future.
“It’s an opportunity to uplift our Black voices and acknowledge our people who made sacrifices to make a difference in our culture — to honor our Black leaders who were historically oppressed, yet still gave us hope and lifelong lessons that are still relevant today,” Rikka said. “I wouldn’t want to rejoice and reflect in any other way.” In her free time Rikka enjoys dancing, listening to jazz and R&B, and spending time with her grandchildren.
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