For almost 40 years, Dr Ostrow has developed and co-led large-scale mixed methods longitudinal research attacking challenging issues in public health, infectious disease epidemiology, mental health services, psychopharmacology, and healthcare utilization disparities. Since retiring from clinical practice, he has focused on issues related to Cannabis as Medicine, as it touches on so many of the social determinants of health and their harm-reduction-based solutions. Throughout his career, the development of innovative methods for collecting valid data on difficult to find subpopulations and "sensitive" behaviors has been a highlight.
Combining his MD/PhD training in the U of Chicago's MSTP, and specialty training in neuropsychopharmacology, addiction medicine, Cannabinoid medicine, survey research, and multi-site multidisciplinary research, has enabled Dr Ostrow to continue to be an internationally recognized leader in research and public health policy in many pressing areas of disease prevention and treatment. He has an untarnished history of continuous NIH, CDC and foundation funding throughout his academic career, and over 100 high-ranking publications in prestigious peer reviewed journals. He is a sought after speaker in areas ranging from "Diversity in Medical Scientist Careers," to “Integration of Natural and Wellness Therapies into Medical Training and Practice.”
His consulting work now contributes to the development of successful multi-site Cannabinoid therapeutics development, Currently, he provides consultation (via telephone or ZOOM during the pandemic), while continuing to support community-based healthcare equality Initiatives. He is a founding member of Doctors for Cannabis Regulation, the American Academy of Cannabinoid Medicine and the ACP; and a director/scientific development leader of an innovative and cost-effective cannabis/psychedelic treatment clinic suitable for implementation both in the US and abroad.

By bringing our unique skills and experiences in multidisciplinary biomedical research and program development to the most pressing and recalcitrant public health needs of our times, begining with the sudden appearance of a new epidemic, “AIDS”, among gay/bisexual men and intravenous drug users in 1981. His organization and leadership of the City of Chicago’s AIDS Task Force (1982-1987) and the largest and longest running longitudinal multisite study of the pathophysiology and prevention of HIV/AIDS (the MACS, 1983-1991) has contributed to our understanding of the biopsychosocial nature of disease and its prevention and treatment among socially marginalized persons. Currently, he is applying lessons learned from the fight against the HIV/AIDS Epidemics to helping to end the opioid dependence and overdose epidemics.