Dr. Peter Bartsch grew up in St. Gallen, Switzerland and graduated from the Medical School of the University of Zürich in 1974. Throughout his career he has combined his love for mountains and wilderness areas with his professional and scientific interests.

Since 1979, Dr. Bartsch has participated in many field studies in the Alps, investigating the physiology, prevention and treatment of acute high altitude illnesses. From 1984 to 1989, he ran high altitude research projects at the Inselspital Bern, in co-operation with Oswald Oelz, and in 1990, he led the Exercise Physiology Laboratory at the Swiss School of Sports. In 1991, he was appointed Professor of Sports Medicine at the University of Heidelberg where he is currently the head of the Division of Sports Medicine.

He has climbed several 6000-meter peaks in South America and accompanied Himalayan expeditions to Shisha Pangma and to Nanga Parbat where he reached an altitude of 8000m in the Diamir Face. He is also president of the International Society of Mountain Medicine.