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Prof. Dr. Nicole Ernstmann studied psychology at the Heinrich Heine University in Düsseldorf after graduating in health care and nursing. She completed her doctorate at the University of Cologne, where she was appointed to a junior professorship in medical sociology of health care research. She was also awarded the Venia Legendi for the subjects of health services research and medical sociology. After following a call to the University of Bonn, she established the Research Unit for Health Communication and Health Services Research at the Clinic and Polyclinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy and headed the Institute for Patient Safety. In 2022, she was appointed to the W3 professorship for health services research at the University of Cologne. Her chair is located in the IMVR.

Her research focuses on psychosocial quality of care and patient-centered communication. Her research findings are incorporated into concepts for improving care. The focus is on measures that make it easier to deal with serious, especially oncological, illnesses, improve health literacy, enhance health-related quality of life, or promote social participation.

Together with Prof. Pfaff, Prof. Ernstmann heads the Master’s program in Health Care Science at the University of Cologne. She is the spokesperson for the group of university lecturers in the German Network for Health Services Research (DNVF). In 2022, national recommendations for a core curriculum for master’s programs in health services research were agreed upon under her leadership.