Professor Markus Ries, MD, PhD, MHSc, MA, FCP, FIBODM is a paediatrician, physician-scientist, and resilience researcher at Heidelberg University Hospital, where he leads an interdisciplinary group. He developed a universal crisis-resilience model integrating interdisciplinarity, methodological diversity, and transferability for complex challenges in today’s VUCA world. He serves as a Colonel in the German Army Medical Reserve Corps, contributed to national COVID-19 response efforts, and led a Marsilius project on disaster resilience in children and adolescents.

He previously worked in the biotech industry, contributing to five drug approvals. His international experience spans the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Latin America, and Japan.

Professor Ries holds degrees in medicine, biochemistry, clinical research, and civil-military interaction, with training at Mainz, Bonn, Duke, Heidelberg, and the NIH. He has published over 100 papers, serves on multiple editorial boards, and is ranked among the world’s top two percent of cited scientists.