Schmidt, Heike

Degrees 

  • 2012: Degree in Psychosocial Oncology (WPO-PT)
  • 2010: Certificate as clinical investigator (coordination centers for clinical studies)
  • 2009: Doctorate (Dr. med.)
  • 1993: Degree in psychotherapy (individual and group), 
  • 1991: License to practice medicine
  • 1982: Graduation Associate in Arts, Cottey College, Nevada, Missouri, USA

Professional career

  • Since 2010: Scientific staff member at the Institute of Health and Nursing Sciences, Medical Faculty, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg
  • 2009-2010: Scientific staff member at the Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Halle
  • 2003-2009: Doctoral thesis “Stress and coping because of immobilization due to preterm labor - a qualitative analysis of interviews with the women and their partners”
  • 1998-2003: Parental leave
  • 1994-1998: Psychotherapeutic practice
  • 1991-1994: Assistant physician at the Rhineland Regional Hospital, Viersen, section addictive diseases, psychotherapy

Research focus

  • Supportive Oncology, Working Group Pro-patient-reported outcomes research in oncology: Symptom assessment and symptom management (transdisciplinary)
  • Assessment as the basis for interdisciplinary treatment planning
  • Coping 

Current research projects 

  • Co-investigator in cooperation with clinical partners of the University Clinic Halle (Internal Medicine I, Radiation therapy)

The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Group:

  • Development of a module to supplement the EORTC Core instruments for assessment of Health Related Quality of Life in patients with Anal Cancer
  • Development of a module to supplement the EORTC Core instruments for assessment of Health Related Quality of Life in patients with Cancer Cachexia
  • Cross-cultural adaptation of an EORTC cancer out-patient satisfaction with care measure (EORTC OUT-PATSAT) for the ambulatory setting
  • Creation of symptom-based questionnaires based on current EORTC guidelines for module development:  The development of a time-efficient procedure 
  • Investigating the German response scale of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) – a three-step approach  
  • PRO-LQ - Lebensqualität in der klinischen Onkologie
  • Sidekick - Entwicklung einer komplexen Supportivintervention zur Förderung der körperlichen Funktionsfähigkeit älterer Krebspatienten unter Berücksichtigung der individuellen Plastizität

Completed research projects 

  • PIVOG Geriatric Cancer Patients: Assessment, Clinical Decision Making, Quality of Life -Modeling and Piloting of a Patient Centered Interdisciplinary Care Program for Geriatric Oncology Patients - A Prospective Bicentric Study“ 
  • Pro-Onko: Patient reported outcomes in the treatment of oncological patients - A multicenter pilot study to select appropriate assessment instruments
  • OPTIREHA - Patient Transition from Acute Care to Rehabilitation“ 

Memberships

  • German Society for Geriatrics and Gerontology (DGGG)
  • International Society of Geriatric Oncology (SIOG)
  • Elderly task force (ETF) as quality of life group representative 
  • German Network for Evidence-based Medicine (EbM Netzwerk)
  • Center for Patient Education (Zentrum Patientenschulung e.V.)
  • European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Group
  • German Cancer Society (Deutsche Krebsgesellschaft, DKG)
  • Working Group Psycho-Oncology (Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Psychoonkologie in der deutschen Krebsgesellschaft e. V., PSO)
  • Working Group Supportive Measures in Oncology, Rehabilitation and Social Medicine (Arbeitsgemeinschaft Supportive Maßnahmen in der Onkologie, Rehabilitation und Sozialmedizin ASORS)
  • Conference of Oncology Nursing and Pediatric Nursing (KOK)
  • European Nursing Society (EONS)
  • Cancer Society of Saxony-Anhalt (Sachsen-Anhaltische Krebsgesellschaft e. V., SAKG)

External Peer Review

  • Supportive Care in Cancer
  • BMJ open
  • Annals of oncology
  • Journal for pain and symptom management
  • Journal for Evidence, Training and Quality in Healthcare (ZEFQ) 

Awards 

  • Poster Prize - 30th German Cancer Congress, 22 - 25 February 2012 in Berlin
  • Highlighted Poster - 2nd ASORS Annual Congress "Supportive therapy and rehabilitation in cancer - State of the Art 2011", 25/26 March 2011 in Berlin

Voluntary work 

  • AG Ethic case counseling

Publications