Assoc Prof Christoph Lehner

State or Territory:

• Queensland

Primary position including institution/organisation:

• Consultant Obstetrician and Fellow in Maternal Fetal Medicine
• The Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital

About Christopher Lehner:

• Associate Professor Chris Lehner works as a Consultant Obstetrician and Fellow in Maternal Fetal Medicine at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital. His clinical work involves management of complex high-risk pregnancies with a special interest in maternal cardiac disease, obstetric ultrasound and prevention of preterm birth.
• After completion of his PhD in molecular cardiology and basic surgical training he commenced specialist training in Obstetrics and Gynaecology in Germany before relocating to Australia.
• He completed his specialist training and commenced subspecialty training in Maternal Fetal Medicine in Queensland.
• Chris is a member of the Queensland Maternal and Perinatal Quality Council (QMPQC) Perinatal Mortality Sub-Committee and working group member of the Safer Baby Bundle within the NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Stillbirth (Stillbirth CRE).
• He is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Queensland (UQ) and member of the Board of Examiners in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the UQ School of Medicine.
• He has several advisory roles within Queensland Health.
• His current research focuses on pathophysiology and prevention of preterm birth and stillbirth education.

Listen to Assoc Prof Christoph Lehner speak about activities underway in QLD to reduce rates on early birth.

Why does preventing early birth matter to you?

“The preterm birth rate in Queensland has been progressively rising for the last five years and is above the national rate now. This is very concerning and I want to contribute to promoting education and research in early birth prevention and thus reduce the number of babies born preterm.”

“Recently, I met Ava and her grandmother at our local playground. Ava was born at 27 weeks gestation. She has chronic lung disease and is on home oxygen. Sadly, Ava will never be able to run around with other kids and this is heart breaking. Preterm birth prevention matters to me because it avoids suffering and the long-term detrimental effects of prematurity for children like Ava.”