Current Work Positions
2018 – 2024: Element Scientist, Exploration Medical Capability, NASA Human Research Program, Houston, TX
Role: Medical and scientific leadership, guidance, expertise, and oversight to an interdisciplinary team of 50 clinicians, scientists, and engineers who are working collaboratively to design future NASA medical systems for human space exploration. Yearly operational budget of approximately $10 million.
Other NASA duties include:
Medical Officer, Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory, NASA Johnson Space Center (2022 – current)
NASA Medical Officer (one-month rotation), McMurdo Station Medical Clinic, Antarctica (2023)
Operational Space Medicine Physician (six-month rotation), Space Medicine Operations Division, NASA Johnson Space Center (2021-2022)
Deputy Chief Scientist (three-month rotation), NASA Human Research Program (2021)
2018 – 2024: Attending Physician, Ben Taub General Hospital Emergency Department, Houston, TX
2010 – present Medical Specialist Reservist, Royal Canadian Air Force, Canadian Armed Forces, Ottawa, Canada
Past Work History
2017 – 2018 Deputy Scientist, Exploration Medical Capability, NASA Human Research Program, Houston, TX
2017 – 2018 Senior Scientist Manager, Translational Research Institute for Space Health, Houston TX
2010 – 2017 Attending Physician, GWU Hospital Emergency Department, Washington, DC
Faculty Appointments
2017 – present Associate Professor, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
I have joint appointments in the Department of Emergency Medicine and Center for Space Medicine.
2015 – present Adjunct Professor, International Space University, Strasbourg, FR
I served as the Chair of the Human Performance in Space Department at the Space Studies Program (SSP) in 2015, 2016, and as co-chair in 2024. Since then, I have been an SSP visiting lecturer and workshop leader for human health and performance topics including space medicine and crew medical officer skills training.
2010 – 2017 Assistant Professor, George Washington University, Washington, DC
As a faculty member of the Department of Emergency Medicine, I served as:
Creator and Director, EHS 6227 – Introduction to Human Health in Space graduate course
Creator and Director, Fellowship in Extreme Environmental Medicine
Founder and Director, Aviation Medicine Clinic, Medical Faculty Associates
Remote and Telemedicine Physician, Maritime Medical Access, Medical Faculty Associates
EMS Medical Director, Emergency Medical Response Group (EMeRG), George Washington University
Board Certifications, Medical Licenses, and Privileges
Active Board Certifications:
American Board of Emergency Medicine (2009, 2019)
Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, Emergency Medicine (2008)
Current Medical Licenses:
Current Medical Staff Appointments (Credentials and Privileges):
NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX, USA (2020-2023)
Ben Taub General Hospital, Harris Health System, Houston, TX, USA (2018-2023)
Education
Certificate, Space Studies Program, International Space University (Barcelona, Spain), 2008
Emergency Medicine Residency, University of Western Ontario (London, Ontario, Canada), 2008
Doctor of Medicine, University of Western Ontario (London, Ontario, Canada), 2003
Honors Bachelor of Science – Bio-Medical Sciences, University of Guelph (Guelph, Ontario, Canada), 1999
Selected Specialized Training and Certifications
Field Safety Course, McMurdo Station, Antarctica (2023)
Introductory Course in Undersea & Hyperbaric Medicine, Louisiana State University (2022)
High-Altitude Physiological Training Course, NASA Johnson Space Center (2022)
Instructor, Advanced Trauma Life Support (2016 – 2023)
Aviation Medical Examiner, Federal Aviation Administration (2015)
PADI Advanced Open Water SCUBA Diver (2011)
Private Pilot License – Canada and USA (2010)
EMS Medical Director’s Course, National Association of Emergency Medical Services Physicians (2007)
Flight Surgeon Course, Canadian Armed Forces, Defence Research & Development Canada (2007)
NASA Aerospace Medicine Clerkship, Kennedy Space Center (2006)
Basic Dive Medicine Officer Course, Canadian Armed Forces, Defence Research & Development Canada (2005)
Selected Awards & Commendations
Eric Liljencrantz Award, Aerospace Medical Association (2023) - “For excellence as an educator in aerospace medicine”
Young Alumni Award of Distinction, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University (2023)
NASA Johnson Space Center Director’s Commendation Award (2023) - “For sustained exceptional service as the Human Research Program Exploration Medical Capability Element Scientist contributing to the NASA Artemis and Mars missions.”
Senior Member, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics [AIAA] (2021)
International Space Station Research and Development Conference, Award for Compelling Results in Human Health in Space (2020) – ISS Autonomous Medical Officer Support Ultrasound Technology Demonstration
Fellow, Aerospace Medical Association (2020)
Fellow, American College of Emergency Physicians (2014)
Selected Publications
Lewandowski B, Schkurko C, Miller R, Valentine R, Calaway K, Yang J, Ebert D, Sargsyan A, Byrne V, Walton M, Lemery J, Suresh R, Thompson M, Easter BD, Lehnhardt KR. Technology Modification, Development, and Demonstrations for Future Spaceflight Medical Systems at NASA. Frontiers in Space Technologies Journal 2024; 5. https://doi.org/10.3389/frspt.2024.1384457
Meer E, Grob SR, Lehnhardt KR, Sawyer A. Ocular complaints and diagnoses in spaceflight. NPJ Microgravity 2024; 10: 1. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41526-023-00335-7
Almand A, Ko SY, Anderson A, Keller RJ, Zero M, Anderson AP, Laws JM, Lehnhardt KR, Easter BD. A Qualitative Investigation of Space Exploration Medical Evacuation Risks. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2023; 94(12):875–886. https://doi.org/10.3357/AMHP.6262.2023
Russell BK, Burian BK, Hilmers DC, Beard BL, Martin K, Pletcher DL, Easter BD, Lehnhardt KR, Levin DR. The Value of a Spaceflight Clinical Decision Support System for Earth-Independent Medical Operations. NPJ Microgravity 2023; 9: 46. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41526-023-00284-1
Levin DR, Steller JG, Anderson A, Lemery J, Easter BD, Hilmers DC, Lehnhardt KR. Enabling Human Space Exploration Missions Through Progressively Earth Independent Medical Operations (EIMO). IEEE Open Journal of Engineering in Medicine and Biology, 2023. DOI: 10.1109/OJEMB.2023.3255513
Mindock J, Lumpkins S, Rubin D, Thaxton S, Lehnhardt, KR. (2022). Crew Health and Performance System Overview and Context. In: Eckart, P., Aldrin, A. (eds) Handbook of Lunar Base Design and Development. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-05323-9_5-1
Crucian B, Valentine R, Calaway K, Miller R, Rubins K, Hopkins M, Salas Z, Krieger S, Makedonas G, Nelman-Gonzalez M, McMonigal K, Perusek G, Lehnhardt KR, Easter BD. Spaceflight Validation of Technology for Point-of-Care Monitoring of Peripheral Blood WBC and Differential in Astronauts during Space Missions. Life Sci Space Res. 2021; 31: 29-33. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lssr.2021.07.003. PMID: 34689947
Hanson A, Mindock J, Okon S, Hailey M, McGuire K, Bardina J, Stewart H, Toscano W, Winther S, Burba T, Rubin D, Lumpkins S, Urbina M, Cerro J, Reilly J, Abdelmelek M, Rubin A, Kockler M, Lehnhardt KR. A Model-Based Systems Engineering Approach to Exploration Medical System Development. Published in IEEE Aerospace Conference Proceedings, Big Sky, MT, USA, 3-8 March 2019. DOI: 10.1109/AERO.2019.8741864
Freese S, Police Reddy A, Lehnhardt KR. Radiation Impacts on Human Health During Spaceflight Beyond Low Earth Orbit. REACH – Reviews in Human Space Exploration 2016; 2: 1-7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.reach.2016.11.002
Antonsen E, Garbino A, Reed RD, Lehnhardt KR. Commercial Spaceflight Challenges for Emergency Medical Response. J Emerg Med Services 2016; 41 (12); 34-39.
Selected Panels and Presentations
Haas C, Lemery J, Harrivel A, Lehnhardt KR. Innovative Approaches to Medical System Design for Space Exploration. Panel at the AIAA ASCEND Conference, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA (October 2023)
Lehnhardt KR, Suresh R, Thompson M. Coordinated NASA Approach for the Development of Medical Capabilities and Technologies for Deep Space Exploration. Aerosp Med Hum Perform 2023; 94 (4): 237. Panel at the Aerospace Medical Association annual meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA (May 2023).
Lemery J, Easter BD, Lehnhardt KR, Arai S, Laing C, Krihak M, Odina J, McGuire KM. Long Duration Medical System Foundation for Lunar Orbital and Lunar Surface Exploration Missions. Aerosp Med Hum Perform 2023; 94 (4): 308. Presentation at the Aerospace Medical Association annual meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA (May 2023)
Levin DR, Steller JG, Anderson A, Lemery J, Easter BD, Hilmers DC, Lehnhardt KR. Enabling Human Spaceflight Exploration Missions Through Progressively Earth Independent Medical Operations. IAC-22,A1,3,5,x70561. Presentation at the International Astronautical Congress in Paris, France (September 2022)
Lehnhardt KR. International Conference of Aerospace Medicine, Paris, France (September 2022). Panel Chair: European Space Agency and NASA Approaches to Deep Space Exploration Medical Care
Lehnhardt KR. Easter B. Phelps S. Fleming N. ExMC Strategy and Approach for Achieving Progressively Earth Independent Medical Operations for NASA Human Spaceflight Exploration Missions. Presentation at the 2022 NASA Human Research Program Investigators’ Workshop (February 2022)
Panel speaker, Star Trek, NASA, and the Medicine of Space, Comicpalooza science fiction and pop culture convention, Houston, TX, USA (May 2019).
Lehnhardt KR. Advancing Future Space Exploration Medical System Design. Aerosp Med Hum Perform 2019; 90 (3): 183. Panel at the Aerospace Medical Association annual meeting in Las Vegas, NV, USA (May 2019)
Antonsen E, Canga M, Kerstman E, Myers J, Lehnhardt KR. The Changing Nature of Medical Risk in Exploration Spaceflight. Aerosp Med Hum Perform 2019; 90 (3): 183. Presentation at the Aerospace Medical Association annual meeting in Las Vegas, NV, USA (May 2019)
Modi V, Lehnhardt KR. Medical Certification Recommendations for Commercial Spaceflight Crewmembers with a History of Spontaneous Pneumothorax. Presentation at the European Congress of Aerospace Medicine in Oslo, Norway (September 2016)
Herrin DM, Lehnhardt KR. The History of Medical Clearance for Commercial Space Operations and Recommendations for Next-Generation Clearance and Occupational Safety Practices. Aerosp Med Hum Perform 2016; 87 (3): 314. Presentation at the Aerospace Medical Association annual meeting in Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA (May 2016)
Lehnhardt KR, Vazquez ME. Is Radiation Exposure an Important Issue in Suborbital Human Spaceflight? Presentation at the Next-Generation Suborbital Researchers Conference in Denver, CO, USA (June 2013)
Lopez Urdiales, J.M., et al. Spaceports: The necessary infrastructure for private spaceflight. IAC-08.D2.2.8. Presentation at the International Astronautical Congress in Glasgow, Scotland (September 2008)
Selected Invited Lectures and Speaking Engagements
Invited panel speaker, Significant Science Results from the International Space Station, International Space Medicine Summit, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA (December 2023)
Invited keynote and panel speaker, Achieving Progressively Earth Independent Medical Operations for Deep Space Exploration, International Workshop on Artificial Intelligence-Powered Space, Rice University AI Houston Institute, Houston, TX, USA (November 2023)
Invited panel speaker, The Intersection of Health and Aerospace, Aerospace States Association 4th Annual Policy Summit, Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences Building, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA (July 2023)
Invited speaker, Medical Capabilities for Earth and Space, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Allied Command Transformation (ACT) Think-tank for Information Decision and Execution (TIDE) Sprint meeting – Medical Track (April 2023 – virtual)
Invited keynote panel speaker, Leaders on the Frontier of Healthcare, Canadian Space Health Research Network Symposium, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (November 2022)
Invited keynote speaker, From Applied Research to Crew Health and Performance Deliverables, American Society for Gravitational and Space Research annual meeting, Houston, TX, USA (November 2022)
Invited panel speaker, Space Systems and Achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals for 2030, 77th United Nations General Assembly Science Summit (Sept 2022 – virtual)
Invited panel moderator and speaker, So, You’re Going to Put People in that Thing?, Space Exploration Track, Space Symposium, Colorado Springs, CO, USA (April 2022)
Invited panel speaker, The Mission to Mars and Space Medicine, SpaceVision 2021, Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS) Conference, Houston, TX, USA (November 2021)
Invited plenary speaker, Autonomous Medical Capabilities for Exploration Spaceflight, 23rd International Academy of Astronautics Humans in Space Symposium, Moscow, Russia (April 2021 – virtual)
Invited workshop speaker, Shooting for the Stars: Medical Capabilities for the Moon and Mars, World Extreme Medicine conference, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom (November 2019)
Invited speaker, Exploration Medical Research at NASA, U.S. Army Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center Science Seminar, Fort Gordon, GA, USA (April 2019)
Invited panel moderator and speaker, Autonomous Medicine, SpaceCom 2018, Houston, TX, USA (November 2018)
Invited panel speaker, Exploration Medical Capability Knowledge Gaps, NASA and NIH Joint Workshop on Collaborative Biomedical Research for Earth and Space Benefit, Bethesda, Maryland, USA (October 2018)
Invited speaker, Human Health in Long-Duration, Long-Distance Spaceflight, Office of Science and Technology Policy, Executive Office of the President, The White House, Washington, DC, USA (February 2016)
Invited plenary speaker, Introduction to Human Health in Space, Mars Society Convention, Washington, DC, USA (August 2015)
Invited panel moderator, Biomedical Challenges of Long-Distance and Long-Duration Human Spaceflight, Humans to Mars Summit, Washington, DC, USA (April 2014)
Invited panel speaker, Innovative Space Exploration Strategies, Space Generation Advisory Council Fusion Forum, Colorado Springs, CO, USA (April 2013)
Invited panel speaker, Biomedical Challenges of Deep Space Exploration, AIAA Congressional Briefing entitled Deep Space: Relaunching American Exceptionalism, Capitol Hill, Washington, DC (July 2012)
Selected Volunteer and Service Contributions
Member, Education and Training Committee, Aerospace Medical Association (2013 – present)
Volunteer Physician, Medical Support Team, Wings Over Houston Airshow, Houston, TX, USA (2021-2022)
Proposal Reviewer, NASA Flight Opportunities Program (2019, 2022)
Mentor, Brooke Owens Fellowship Program (2018 – present)
Member-At-Large, Executive Subcommittee, Commercial Spaceflight Technical Committee, American Society for Testing and Materials [ASTM] International (2017 – present)
Member, Life Sciences and Systems Technical Committee, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics [AIAA] (2017 – present)
Member, Board of Advisors, Students for the Exploration and Development of Space [SEDS USA] (2016 – present)
Voting Member, Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee (COMSTAC), Office of Commercial Space Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration (2016-2017)
Member, Medical Evacuation Working Group, 1 Canadian Field Hospital, Royal Canadian Medical Service, Canadian Armed Forces (2016)
