The University of Notre Dame College of Science is pleased to welcome Christopher J. Ostertag, Ph.D., to the faculty, further strengthening the college’s growing leadership in rare disease patient advocacy, research, and ethics-informed science and healthcare education. In July, Ostertag will join Notre Dame as the Bill & Lisa Powers Collegiate Associate Professor of the Practice in the Department of Preprofessional Studies and Director of Ethics for the Institute for Rare Diseases.
Ostertag joins Notre Dame with a distinctive combination of academic expertise, healthcare leadership, and lived experience as a rare disease advocate. His work will support the College’s Patient Advocacy Initiative and interdisciplinary efforts that connect science, medicine, ethics, and compassionate care. The appointment also reflects Notre Dame’s continued commitment to integrating scientific excellence with human dignity and ethical leadership.
“This role is a true calling,” Ostertag said. “It allows me to weave together my Catholic faith, my journey as a bereaved rare disease parent, and my professional background in theology and health care ethics,” said Ostertag, who most recently served as Regional Director of Clinical Ethics at Intermountain Health in Colorado. “After seven years of serving in ethics and mission integration across three health systems, I am eager to help cultivate the next generation of rare disease patient advocates at Notre Dame.
“I look forward to partnering with patients, families, organizations, researchers, and legislators to improve the lives of all those impacted by rare diseases.”
The Patient Advocacy Initiative, anchored by Notre Dame’s interdisciplinary Minor in Science and Patient Advocacy, is one of the nation’s first academic programs dedicated to preparing students to advocate effectively for patients and families affected by rare diseases. The initiative brings together researchers, clinicians, patients, caregivers, industry leaders, and students to advance advocacy, outreach, and education for the rare disease community.
At Intermountain Health, Ostertag led ethics programs across hospitals and helped develop ethics review frameworks for emerging healthcare technologies, including artificial intelligence. Prior to that, he served as Regional Director of Mission Services at OSF HealthCare and completed an ethics fellowship with Ascension.
Ostertag earned his doctorate in theology and health care ethics from Saint Louis University, where his dissertation, completed with distinction, examined prenatal diagnosis, parenthood, and disability through the lens of Catholic healthcare ethics. His scholarship and teaching focus on bioethics, disability, rare disease advocacy, Catholic social thought, and the ethical dimensions of healthcare decision-making.
Ostertag’s connection to patient advocacy is deeply personal. He and his family became advocates within the rare disease community following the diagnosis of their son, Hans, with Zellweger spectrum disorder, a rare peroxisomal disorder. Peroxisomal disorders are genetic conditions caused when broken or missing peroxisomes—the cell’s “recycling centers”— do not break down toxic fats, causing damage to the brain, liver and nervous system. Through that experience, he became an active leader in advocacy and outreach efforts, serving on the board of The Global Foundation for Peroxisomal Disorders and participating in national rare disease advocacy initiatives.
In recent years, Ostertag has engaged directly with Notre Dame’s patient advocacy community, including participating in the University’s Rare Disease Patient Advocacy Summit, where he spoke about the importance of keeping the whole patient and family at the center of care.
"Chris brings an extraordinary blend of intellectual rigor, professional experience, and compassionate leadership to Notre Dame," said Barbara Calhoun, MSN, RN, PNP, the Reisenauer Family Director for Patient Advocacy Education and Outreach and the Director of Minor in Science and Patient Advocacy. "His expertise in ethics and patient advocacy, combined with his personal commitment to the rare disease community, will enrich our students’ education and strengthen Notre Dame’s mission to serve patients and families with dignity, empathy, and hope."
In his new role, Ostertag will contribute to teaching, mentorship, and program development connected to patient advocacy and ethics, helping prepare students to become thoughtful leaders across healthcare, science, policy, and industry.
His appointment further advances Notre Dame’s broader vision for the Institute for Rare Diseases and the Patient Advocacy Initiative, which positions Notre Dame as a national leader in rare disease research, education, and advocacy.
Originally published by at raredisease.nd.edu on May 29, 2026.