Robert P. Ostergard was born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1912, and was a graduated of Vanerbilt University School of Medicine. Ostergard served an internship at the Children's Hospital in Montreal, Canada and completed his residency in pediatrics at University Hospitals in Cleveland. He served in World War II as chief of the 35th Evacuation Hospital and was awarded the Bronze Star for service during the Battle of the Bulge.

After the war, Ostergard joined the staff of Trumbull Memorial Hosptial in Warren, Ohio, and was named chief of pediatrics. In 1953, her formed the Children's Medical Group with several other pediatricians. In 1967, he became affiliated with the State Health Department of Virginia, and was appointed the chief clinician for the Crater Health District. He also worked with the Medical College of Virginia (now VCU) to begin a teaching program in the field of community pediatrics.