Dr. Simon Urschel is a Pediatric Cardiologist and Immunologist and Director of the Pediatric Heart Transplant program at the Stollery Children’s Hospital, providing heart transplantation for all western Canadian Provinces and Territories and Professor of Pediatrics, Medical Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Alberta. He received his training in Pediatrics, congenital and acquired immunodeficiencies and Pediatric Cardiology at the Ludwig Maximilians University in Munich, Germany. He worked as a specialist for pediatric heart transplantation in Munich before coming to Edmonton in 2008 for a research term in Transplant Immunology followed by a faculty position in the Department of Pediatrics. Dr. Urschel’s research focuses on the immature immune system of early childhood and how natural weaknesses of the immune response can improve outcomes of organ transplantation. His work on blood group incompatible heart transplantation and desensitization therapies has contributed to establish this technique as a standard option in many parts of the world resulting in shorter wait times, better utilization of donor organs and improved survival after heart transplantation. His second research focus is on quality of life, neurocognitive outcomes and mental health after pediatric transplantation. This includes studies and interventions on social disparities, improved patient integration into care, and communication strategies to reach teenagers to contribute in their medical management.

Dr Urschel serves in many leadership roles on international, national, provincial and local organizations including the Board of Directors of the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT), leadership roles in the Pediatric Heart Transplant Society (PHTS), the Canadian Donation and Transplant Research Program (CDTRP), the Alberta Transplant Institute (ATI) and Transplant Services Alberta.