Dr. Dagmar Schmid | Immunology Cellular Interactions | Women Researcher Award

Dr. Dagmar Schmid, HOCH, Health Ostschweiz, Kantonsspital St.Gallen, Klinik für Psychosomatik und Konsiliarpsychiatrie, Switzerland

PD Dr. med. Dagmar A. Schmid is a German physician and internationally recognized expert in psychosomatic medicine, consultative psychiatry, and sleep research. Born in Neuburg/Donau in 1969, she currently serves as Chief Physician and Director at the Clinic for Psychosomatics, Cantonal Hospital St. Gallen, Switzerland. With over two decades of experience across leading institutions in Germany and Switzerland, Dr. Schmid has made significant contributions to research on chronic pain, sleep disorders, stress, trauma, and Long COVID. Her integrative, evidence-based clinical approach bridges psychotherapy, neuroendocrinology, and psychosomatic care. She is also a passionate educator, holding lectureships at UZH, ETH, HSG, and USB, and is involved in curriculum development for medical training. A Fellow of the Max Planck Society, she holds a habilitation from the University of Zurich. Dr. Schmid combines research leadership, therapeutic innovation, and interdisciplinary collaboration, making her a compelling candidate for the Research for Women Researcher Award.

Publication Profile:

Scopus

✅ Strengths Supporting Suitability for the Award:

1. Outstanding Clinical-Scientific Integration

• PD Dr. Schmid bridges psychiatry, psychosomatics, sleep medicine, and trauma, integrating clinical practice with impactful research.

• Her work is deeply translational, evidenced by studies like CBT for narcolepsy, multimodal pain therapy, and psychotraumatology in somatic settings.

2. Highly Relevant and Timely Research Topics

• Research on Long COVID, psychotraumatology, insomnia, and workplace mental health is at the forefront of global health challenges.

• Interdisciplinary projects (e.g., with neurology, gynecology, immunology) reflect innovation and relevance to both women’s and public health.

3. International Recognition & Academic Output

• Over 40 peer-reviewed publications, including in high-impact journals.

• Multiple first-author papers, invited talks, and poster awards reflect peer validation.

• Recipient of prestigious awards and fellowships (e.g., Max Planck Society, Heraeus Foundation).

4. Leadership and Mentorship

• Clinic Director and Chief Physician since 2017.

• Responsible for establishing therapy units and sleep diagnostics services.

• Supervises dissertations, reflecting her mentorship commitment, especially valuable for empowering future women researchers.

5. Teaching & Outreach

• Teaching roles at major Swiss institutions (ETH, UZH, HSG, USB).

• Leadership in educational modules on psychosomatics, communication, and sleep disorders.

• Speaker in national specialist curricula, enhancing knowledge dissemination.

6. Focus on Women’s Health

• Specific projects on gynecological trauma, psychosomatics in oncology, and stress-related conditions affecting women’s mental and physical health.

⚠️ Areas for Potential Improvement or Future Growth:

1. International Visibility in Gender-Specific Medicine

• While her research is highly relevant to women’s mental health, more direct engagement in gender-specific medical research networks or global women’s health collaborations would further strengthen her candidacy.

2. Research Leadership in Consortia

• Leading international multicenter studies or EU-funded programs would enhance her influence on policy-level decisions in women’s mental health.

3. Visibility in Advocacy and Policy

• Greater participation in public policy or healthcare advisory roles (e.g., for WHO or national bodies) on topics like Long COVID in women or trauma-informed care would expand her societal impact.

🎓 Education:

Dr. Schmid earned her medical doctorate at the Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, with a dissertation on hormone secretion and sleep EEG in depression. From 1998 to 2002, she held a prestigious scholarship from the Max Planck Society, further advancing her research in psychoneuroendocrinology. Her habilitation (postdoctoral qualification) was completed at the University of Zurich in 2023, titled “Psychophysiology in Psychosomatics Using Sleep as an Example”. She is a certified specialist in psychiatry and psychotherapy in both Germany and Switzerland. Her therapeutic training includes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT), EMDR trauma therapy, hypnotherapy, and CBASP for chronic depression. Dr. Schmid has also completed the GCP clinical research certification, the SIM expert certificate, and advanced training in psycho-oncology. Her interdisciplinary education forms the foundation of her clinical innovation and scientific impact.

💼 Professional Experience:

Dr. Schmid has held senior positions in top psychiatric and psychosomatic institutions. From 1998–2002, she worked at the Max Planck Institute, followed by clinical roles in Zurich and Basel. At Clienia Schlössli AG, she led psychotherapy and DBT programs, later joining the University Hospital Zurich, working in sleep medicine, liaison psychiatry, and emergency psychiatry. Since 2017, she is Chief Physician and Clinic Director for Psychosomatics and Consultant Psychiatry at the Cantonal Hospital St. Gallen, where she also established a sleep diagnostics department. She’s active in training and supervising medical staff, conducting expert evaluations, and coordinating interdisciplinary care for Long COVID, trauma, and chronic pain. Since 2025, she has also been affiliated with the University Hospital Basel. Her professional journey reflects leadership in clinical development, patient-centered innovations, and academic collaboration.

🏆 Awards & Honors:

Dr. Schmid’s excellence in research and clinical work has been recognized with multiple awards. She received the prestigious Max Planck Society Fellowship (1998–2001) and the Heraeus Foundation Award in 2000. She has won poster prizes at national congresses for work in psychotraumatology (SAPPM/SPS 2022) and sleep-pain therapy (SGPP 2022). She holds the Certificate of Competence in Sleep Medicine, Psycho-Oncology, and is a certified CBT/DBT/IPT/EMDR therapist. She’s a frequent speaker in consultant psychiatry and psychosomatics curricula across Switzerland and Germany, and has led training programs for medical communication, CBT-insomnia, and trauma therapy. Her habilitation (2023) and over 40 peer-reviewed publications reflect sustained academic achievement. Additionally, she has supervised doctoral and master’s theses and collaborated in major clinical research projects, including Long COVID, narcolepsy, and psychosomatic gynecology. These honors and contributions underscore her qualification for the Research for Women Researcher Award.

🔬 Research Focus:

Dr. Schmid’s research bridges psychosomatic medicine, neuroendocrinology, and sleep science, with emphasis on chronic pain, trauma, stress disorders, and Long COVID. Her work explores how hormonal rhythms, sleep patterns, and mental health interact—using sleep EEG, endocrine markers, and clinical interventions. She developed novel group therapies for narcolepsy, dizziness, and insomnia and led outcome evaluations for interdisciplinary multimodal pain therapy (IMPT). Her recent focus includes psychosocial recovery in healthcare workers post-COVID, and pilot studies on plasmapheresis in chronic fatigue syndrome. She also investigates cognitive outcomes, emotion regulation, and therapeutic online models, especially for vulnerable populations. Her research integrates clinical trials, neurobiology, and psychotherapy, contributing to evidence-based advancements in psychosomatic practice. She leads projects at the Cantonal Hospital St. Gallen and collaborates with researchers across neurology, gynecology, and internal medicine, making her research highly interdisciplinary and translational in nature.

📚 Publications Top Notes:

• 🧠 Increased GH Response to Apomorphine in Parkinson vs MSA (Arch Neurol, 2001)

• 🍔 Ghrelin Stimulates Appetite, GH, ACTH, Cortisol in Normals (Sleep Res, 2005)

• 🛌 Nocturnal Ghrelin Levels & Sleep EEG Correlation (Psychoneuroendocrinology, 2006)

• 🌙 CRH1-Antagonist Improves Sleep EEG in Depression (J Psychiatr Res, 2004)

• 🌀 Dizziness and Anxiety – A Psychosomatic Link (Health Qual Life Outcomes, 2020)

• 😴 Ghrelin Promotes Deep Sleep in Humans (AJPEM, 2003)

• 🧬 CRH Test, Sleep, and Depression Vulnerability (J Psychiatr Res, 2008)

• 🧪 Cortisol and Sleep Depth in Depression (J Psychiatr Res, 2008)

• 🦠 HPA Axis & Cytokines in Depression (J Psychiatr Res, 2003)

• 🧬 Factors Affecting HPA Reactivity in Depression (Neuropsychopharmacology, 2003)

• 🧘‍♀️ Long COVID & Mental Health in Healthcare Workers (In Prep, 2025)

• 🛏 IMPT Effectiveness in Chronic Pain-Related Insomnia (In Progress)

• 🎯 Group Therapy in Narcolepsy: Emotion Regulation & Acceptance (2021-2022)

• 🎓 CBT-Insomnia Education for Non-Psychiatrists (Ongoing Teaching)

✅ Conclusion:

PD Dr. med. Dagmar A. Schmid is an exceptionally qualified and impactful candidate for the Research for Women Researcher Award. Her integrative, patient-centered research, particularly in sleep medicine, psychotraumatology, and Long COVID, directly contributes to improving women’s health. Combined with her extensive clinical leadership, educational outreach, and publication record, she exemplifies the spirit of this award.