Daniel J. Ostergaard, M.D.

Dr. Ostergaard became vice president for professional activities in 2008 after serving as vice president for international and interprofessional activities at the AAFP since 1999. Prior to that time, he served for 16 years as vice president for education and scientific activities.

As vice president for professional activities, he has oversight responsibilities for the educational, scientific, public health and research activities of the AAFP, as well as the AAFP’s relationships with medical organizations in the United States and abroad. Through these relationships, Dr. Ostergaard facilitates the continued development of family medicine throughout the world and coordinates AAFP international humanitarian activities.

Dr. Ostergaard has served as a family medicine representative in a wide variety of medical organizations including terms of service on the Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education, the Accreditation Council on Continuing Medical Education and as Treasurer of the Council of Medical Specialty Societies. He is an Alternate Delegate to the American Medical Association’s House of Delegates. Dr. Ostergaard is a member of the World Organization of Family Doctors (Wonca) Executive Committee by virtue of his position as chair of its Bylaws Committee. In 1998, he was awarded honorary life membership in Wonca.

In his travels to more than 60 countries, he has presented a wide variety of papers in multiple countries and has served in many international consultative capacities. He has numerous publications to his credit and has served as visiting professor in several states. Among his awards are the 2000 Gabriel Smilkstein Memorial Award of the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine for outstanding contributions to the growth and development of family medicine education throughout the world and the 2001 AAFP Humanitarian Award honoring his extraordinary and enduring humanitarian efforts both within and beyond the borders of the United States.

Ostergaard received his Bachelor of Arts degree in natural sciences and psychology from the University of North Dakota. He received his medical degree from the University of Texas Southwestern School of Medicine in Dallas. In addition to clinical practice in the United States Public Health Service in New Mexico, Ostergaard served as director of the Family Medicine Residency in Duluth and was a faculty member of the University of Minnesota School of Medicine.