Prof. Dr. med. Katharina Schmitt
Paediatric Cardiologist, Professorship in Developmental Pediatrics, Medical Director, Psychocardiology
Professional experience
2023 – present W3 Professor of Developmental Pediatrics in Cardiac Medicine I Head of Psychocardiology I Head of Developmental Pediatrics in Cardiac Medicine DHZC (Deutsches Herzzentrum der Charité), Berlin
2015 Appointment as Senior Physician, Department of Congenital Heart Desease I Pediatric Cardiology DHZC, Berlin
2012 Appointment as Research and Teaching Assistant
2002 – 2023 Physician at the Department of Congenital Heart Desease I Paediatric Cardiology DHZC, Berlin
Education
2023 Appointment as W3 Professor at the Deutsches Herzzentrum der Charité
2019 Appointment as Adjunct Professor at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin
2011 Habilitation at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Topic: Hypothermia for organ protection
1998 – 2002 Doctorate at the Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology at the Friedrich Schiller University Jena
2001 – 2002 Medical studies at the Humboldt University Berlin
- Practical year at Harvard Medical School MA, USA (paediatric heart surgery, Children's Hospital Boston)
- Practical year at the Charité Berlin (anaesthesia and cardiology)
1994 – 2001 Medical studies at the Friedrich Schiller University Jena
Qualifications
2022 Additional qualification in intensive care medicine
2016 Certificate in the specialisation of EMAH from the German Society for Paediatric Cardiology and Congenital Heart Defects
2015 Specialist in paediatric cardiology
2012 Specialist in paediatrics and adolescent medicine
2004 Full licence to practice medicine
2002 Partial licence to practice medicine
Scientific specialisations
- Hypothermia for the protection of immature organ systems https://www.hypothermia.eu/ (intervention strategies for cell protection after ischaemia I reperfusion injury)
- Biomarkers in paediatric heart surgery – omics analyses
- Basic research in neuroprotection (primary neurones, microglia cells and brain slice cultures)
- Mechanical circulatory support procedures in childhood and paediatric heart transplantation
- Diagnostics of neuroprotection in paediatric cardiology (NIRS, aEEG)
- Developmental studies in children with congenital heart disease and after resuscitation (LEADER project)
- Family-centred care (FCC)
- Digital medicine (EVIE by DHZB, remote patient monitoring, ePROMs)
- Analysis of the influence of prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart disease on emotional stress and the course of pregnancy
Clinical focus
- Paediatric intensive care
- Terminal heart failure, mechanical circulatory support and paediatric heart transplantation
- Treatment of adults with congenital heart disease (EMAH)
- Neuroprotection during paediatric heart surgery
- Leading an interdisciplinary team for the care of patients with congenital heart disease, Quality Management and parent surveys, Quality of Life assessment, development of digitisation strategies
- Developmental paediatric aftercare of children with congenital heart disease
