Dr Thomas Forbes

We are pleased to introduce Thomas Forbes, MD, as our new Chief of Pediatric Cardiac Services at Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital's Pediatric Heart Institute. Dr. Forbes treats children with a variety of heart conditions and adult patients who were born with congenital heart defects and require further treatment. He specializes in a variety of heart procedures, including those to close holes in the upper chamber of the heart due to atrial septal defects (ASDs) and placement of valves in the right ventricular outflow tract, where the pulmonary valve would normally be present. 

He also travels frequently around the country to assist colleagues in closing holes in the lower chamber of the heart, (post infarct ventricular septal defects), paravalvular leaks and complex ASDs.

In addition to Dr. Forbes’ work at the children’s hospital, he is the co-founder of the Congenital Cardiovascular Interventional Study Consortium, the largest international pediatric interventional consortium worldwide, working with the FDA to obtain device approval in the U.S. 

He has also participated in the development of vascular stents, including the Genesis XD, which will likely be the first approved stent in the U.S. to gain approval for treatment of branch pulmonary artery stenosis. 

Lastly, Dr. Forbes holds patents on a pericardial anchoring system for left atrial appendage occluder devices, as well as physiologic devices currently being developed for ongoing management of heart failure.

As part of our continued heart program advancement at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, we are developing a dedicated Pediatric Cardiac Research Center that will assist in running clinical trials and developing devices for use in children born with congenital heart disease. 

We work closely with the FDA in creating registries that would allow devices to be more quickly approved in the U.S., along with other countries such as Japan, South Korea, Mexico and Brazil. We’re also starting a fellowship program in Pediatric Cardiology, plan to open a Fetal Heart Center and recently created an Adult Congenital Heart Center.

Fellowships:

• Pediatric Cardiology - Baylor College Of Medicine Program, 1996 

Residency:

• Pediatrics - University Of Nebraska Medical Center, 1993

Internship:

• Pediatrics - University Of Nebraska Medical Center, 1991

Medical Education:

• Doctor of Medicine - University Of Nebraska Medical Center, 1991