Peter Oster

Peter Oster is Professor and Medical Director of the Geriatric Center at Bethanien Hospital, Heidelberg University. He has served in this role since 1999 and has been working at the Geriatric Center since 1981. As a leading figure in German geriatrics, he has pioneered innovative approaches to elderly care.

Professor Oster's research focuses on key areas of geriatric medicine:

• Understanding and treating frailty in elderly patients
• Developing specialized care models for dementia patients
• Expanding palliative care approaches beyond oncology to include stroke patients, heart failure patients, and those with advanced dementia
• Addressing multimorbidity in elderly patients within the constraints of the DRG healthcare system
• Implementing interdisciplinary team approaches that integrate nursing care with therapy

Professor Oster is a member of the Network Aging Research, collaborating on concepts and innovations in geriatric care. His practical innovations include the development of continence consultation services, medical training therapy with weights and coordination training, and specialized dementia care units.

As Medical Director of the Geriatric Center at Bethanien Hospital, Professor Oster leads an interdisciplinary team comprising physicians, nursing personnel, therapists, and social workers. His leadership has positioned the hospital as a pioneer in palliative geriatric medicine in Germany, expanding the scope of palliative care to include non-oncological conditions.

Outside of his medical work, Professor Oster has played soccer in university sports for over 30 years, viewing it as both a physical activity and a social experiment that bridges generational gaps. He is also an enthusiast of Heidelberg's cultural comedy scene.