Honoring a Life of Compassion and Excellence

Dr. Jens Goebel was a visionary pediatric nephrologist whose compassion, brilliance, and humor changed the lives of countless children and families. Born in Hanover, Germany, Jens carried an unshakable joy for life, from his treasured days on the soccer field to his devotion to his patients, and to his final moments of grace, continuing the gift of life through organ donation.

After graduating from Heidelberg University Medical School, Jens discovered his calling to help children with kidney disease, a mission that shaped his life’s work. His career spanned leading institutions across the U.S., including his role as Director of the Pediatric Kidney Transplant Program at Children’s Hospital Colorado, where he combined scientific rigor with deep empathy to drive meaningful change in pediatric transplant care.

As President of the Improving Renal Outcomes Collaborative (IROC), Jens championed the power of collaboration, data, and quality improvement. He often said that “scientific breakthroughs only matter if they reach patients effectively.” That belief continues to guide IROC’s mission and now, through this endowment, his vision will endure for generations.

To know Jens was to be uplifted by his optimism. His favorite phrase “Totally Awesome!” captured the energy he brought to every challenge and every conversation. His boundless enthusiasm, gentle humor, and genuine care left an indelible mark on all who knew him.

About the Scholars Award

The Dr. Jens Goebel Memorial Quality Scholars Award honors the legacy of a visionary leader dedicated to advancing care for children with kidney transplants. Each year, the award supports one emerging leader committed to improving pediatric transplant outcomes through continuous learning, collaboration, and system-level innovation.

Recipients will:

Receive funding to support education and professional development in the science and methods of quality improvement, learning to use data to identify gaps, test change ideas, measure impact and sustain meaningful progress in care delivery and outcomes.
Uphold Dr. Goebel’s belief that compassion, curiosity, and collaboration are the cornerstones of exceptional care for children.

Every contribution helps build a lasting source of support to inspire and empower the next generation of changemakers in pediatric nephrology.

A "Totally Awesome" Hike in honor of Dr. Jens Goebel

Honoring a “Totally Awesome” life dedicated to helping every child with kidney disease thrive.