# Karsten Hilbert

> Medical Doctor in Germany

**Wikidata**: [Q115943568](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q115943568)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/karsten-hilbert-q115943568

## Summary
Karsten Hilbert is a German medical doctor and software engineer. He is best known as the creator and maintainer of GNUmed, an open-source electronic medical record (EMR) system. A member of the GNU Project since 2001, he bridges the gap between clinical practice and software development.

## Biography
- **Nationality:** Germany
- **Known for:** Creating and maintaining GNUmed
- **Field(s):** Medicine, Software Engineering
- **Occupation:** Physician, Programmer
- **Languages:** German, English

## Contributions
Karsten Hilbert’s primary contribution to the technology and medical sectors is the development of **GNUmed**, a free and open-source electronic medical record (EMR) system. He serves as the project's maintainer, guiding its architectural and functional evolution.

Hilbert has been a documented member of the **GNU Project** since 2001. His work focuses on providing medical professionals with robust, free software tools for patient data management. By leveraging his dual expertise as a practicing physician and a software engineer, he addresses the specific workflow requirements of clinical environments that are often missed by purely technical teams. His contributions are also noted within the Python programming community, where he has been recognized for his development work.

## FAQs
### Q: What is Karsten Hilbert best known for?
A: Karsten Hilbert is best known for developing GNUmed, an open-source electronic medical record system. He acts as the primary maintainer for the software.

### Q: Is Karsten Hilbert a doctor or a programmer?
A: He is both. Hilbert is a practicing medical doctor in Germany and a software engineer. He combines these skills to develop medical software.

### Q: When did Karsten Hilbert join the GNU Project?
A: According to GNU Savannah records, Karsten Hilbert became a member of the GNU Project in 2001.

## Why They Matter
Karsten Hilbert plays a critical role in the niche of open-source medical software. By founding and maintaining GNUmed, he provides a vital alternative to proprietary electronic medical record systems, which can be cost-prohibitive for smaller practices.

His significance lies in his "dual expertise." As a physician, he understands the privacy, speed, and usability requirements of a clinic. As a programmer, he has the technical ability to implement these features within the free software ecosystem. His long-standing commitment since 2001 demonstrates a sustained dedication to the democratization of medical practice tools, ensuring that high-quality patient management software remains accessible to healthcare providers globally without licensing fees.

## Notable For
- **GNUmed Maintainer:** Leading the development of a major open-source EMR.
- **GNU Project Membership:** Being an active contributor to the GNU ecosystem since 2001.
- **Dual Profession:** Combining a career as a Medical Doctor with software engineering.
- **Python Development:** Recognized in the developer community (e.g., PyDev of the Week).

## Body

### Professional Background
Karsten Hilbert is a Medical Doctor based in Germany. In addition to his medical practice, he is an active software engineer and programmer. He is fluent in both German and English, allowing him to collaborate with international developer communities.

### GNUmed and Open Source
Hilbert is the architect and maintainer behind **GNUmed**, an open-source software project designed to handle electronic medical records. The project is part of the **GNU Project**, a collaborative initiative for free software. Hilbert's involvement with the GNU Project officially began in **2001**.

The software is designed to assist doctors in managing patient data effectively. Hilbert's role involves writing code, managing contributions from other developers, and ensuring the software meets medical standards.

### Technical Profile
Hilbert maintains a presence on coding platforms under the username **ncqgm** (GitHub) and **ncq** (GNU Savannah). His work emphasizes the use of technology to solve practical clinical problems. He was featured as "PyDev of the Week" in 2016, highlighting his contributions to the Python programming language ecosystem.

## References

1. [PyDev of the Week: Karsten Hilbert](https://www.blog.pythonlibrary.org/2016/05/09/pydev-of-the-week-karsten-hilbert/)
2. [Source](https://savannah.gnu.org/users/ncq)