Ulla Schmidt is a German politician known for her role as a member of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD). She served as the Federal Minister of Health from 2001 to 2009, where she focused on healthcare reforms and improving public health services in Germany. Born on June 13, 1949, in Köln, Germany, Schmidt has been active in politics since the 1970s. She has held various positions within the SPD and has been a member of the Bundestag, the German federal parliament, since 1994, representing her constituents and advocating for social issues.