Jörg Oster

Prof. Dr. Jörg Oster is a full Professor at Nürtingen-Geislingen University (HfWU), where he conducts research and teaches in the area of psychosomatic rehabilitation and art therapy. His work integrates clinical outcome research with artistic therapies, focusing on patient characteristics, migration-related health issues, and evidence-based rehabilitation strategies.

Research Interests

• Psychosomatic rehabilitation outcomes and prognostic factors
• Art therapy and creative arts therapies in healthcare
• Occupational therapy and work-related rehabilitation measures
• Migration, health, and rehabilitation access
• International Classification of Functioning (ICF) applications in rehabilitation research

Across more than 25 peer-reviewed contributions since 2008, Oster’s publications reveal a consistent focus on the effectiveness of inpatient and outpatient psychosomatic rehabilitation, the role of artistic therapies, and the influence of patient-related and environmental factors on long-term functional and social outcomes. Studies range from randomized evaluations of telephone aftercare to qualitative analyses of patient experiences in art therapy sessions.

Scientific Outputs & Contributions

• Principal investigator of the large-scale “Berufsgruppenanalyse Künstlerischer Therapeutinnen und Therapeuten (BgA-KT)” project mapping the professional landscape of artistic therapists in Germany
• Lead author on multiple final reports for German Pension Insurance-funded rehabilitation studies
• Editorial and review contributions to specialist journals in art therapy and psychosomatic medicine

Collaborating extensively with colleagues such as Prof. Dr. Joachim von Wietersheim, Prof. Dr. G. Müller, and Dr. C. Braunger, Prof. Oster has secured continuous third-party funding and generated practice-relevant evidence that informs national rehabilitation guidelines.