Biography

Dr. Lehnhardt leads the advancement of current and future space medicine initiatives at UTHealth Houston. In addition to his appointment as Director of Space Medicine, Lehnhardt is a professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at McGovern Medical School. He joined McGovern Medical School from Baylor College of Medicine, where he held joint appointments in the Department of Emergency Medicine and the Center for Space Medicine.

Additionally, Dr. Lehnhardt is an adjunct professor at the International Space University in Strasbourg, France, where he has served as the chair of the Human Performance in Space Department at the Space Studies Program on multiple occasions. From 2018 to 2024, Lehnhardt served as Element Scientist for the Exploration Medical Capability element of the NASA Human Research Program. In his role, he provided medical and scientific leadership, guidance, expertise, and oversight to clinicians, scientists, and engineers who design future NASA medical systems for human space exploration.

Additionally, he served as a medical officer in the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory at NASA Johnson Space Center 2022 to 2024 and completed a one-month rotation as the NASA medical officer at the McMurdo Station medical clinic in Antarctica. A well-respected physician-scientist in the field of space medicine, Lehnhardt won the Aerospace Medical Association’s Eric Liljencrantz Award for excellence as an educator in aerospace medicine and the NASA Johnson Space Center Director’s Commendation Award in 2023. He was named a fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians in 2014 and a fellow of the Aerospace Medical Association in 2020.

Education

MD
Western University
Residency
Western University
Certificate, Space Studies
International Space University

Publications

Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles:

  1. 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
  2. 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.
    Aerospace Medicine and Human Performance. 2023; 94(12):875–886.
    https://doi.org/10.3357/AMHP.6262.2023
  3. 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
  4. 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.
    https://doi.org/10.1109/OJEMB.2023.3255513
  5. 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 Sciences in Space Research. 2021; 31:29–33.
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lssr.2021.07.003
    PMID: 34689947

Book Chapters:

  1. McGuire K, Steller J, Lumpkins S, Krihak MK, Hilmers D, Levin D, Kerstman E, Lehnhardt KR, Easter BD, Lemery J.
    Aerospace Systems Engineering Development Principles for Health Care Providers.
    In: Shelhamer M, Antonsen E (eds). Systems Medicine for Human Spaceflight.
    World Scientific Publishing, New Jersey, 2024.
    https://doi.org/10.1142/13713
  2. Mindock J, Lumpkins S, Rubin D, Thaxton S, Lehnhardt KR.
    Crew Health and Performance System Overview and Context.
    In: Eckart P, Aldrin A (eds). Handbook of Lunar Base Design and Development.
    Springer, Cham, 2022.
    https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-05323-9_5-1

Government Reports:

  1. Reichard JF, Lehnhardt KR, Easter BD, Lemery J, Elgart SR.
    Evidence Report: Risk of Ineffective or Toxic Medication During Long-Duration Exploration Spaceflight.
    National Aeronautics and Space Administration, December 2023.
    https://humanresearchroadmap.nasa.gov/Evidence/other/Pharm%20evidence%20report_12-20-23_FINAL.pdf

Conference Proceedings:

  1. 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.
    IEEE Aerospace Conference Proceedings. Big Sky, MT, USA. March 3–8, 2019.
    https://doi.org/10.1109/AERO.2019.8741864

Other Publications:

  1. Antonsen E, Garbino A, Reed RD, Lehnhardt KR.
    Commercial Spaceflight Challenges for Emergency Medical Response.
    Journal of Emergency Medical Services (JEMS). 2016; 41(12):34–39.