Children’s Hospital New Orleans Names Thomas Kimball, MD, as Chief of Pediatric Cardiology and Co-Director of The Heart Center

Nationally Known Pediatric Cardiologist to Join Staff in early 2019

Children’s Hospital and the LSU Health New Orleans Department of Pediatrics announce the recruitment of Thomas Kimball, MD, as Director of the Division of Pediatric Cardiology and Co-Director of The Heart Center. He will hold the rank of Professor of Pediatrics at LSU Health New Orleans and occupy the Nelson K. Ordway Professorship of Pediatric Research.  He comes to Children’s Hospital from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center where he was Medical Director of the Heart Institute, Director of the Cardiology Consult Service, and Director of the Coronary Artery Clinic. He also served as a professor of pediatrics with the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine.

Dr. Kimball will lead the Heart Center team in its multidisciplinary approach to the care of pediatric cardiology patients. His strong background in quality-driven cardiac care will further the Heart Center’s focus on high-quality outcomes and innovative strategies to care delivery.  His experience and depth of expertise will provide the state of Louisiana and the entire Gulf Coast region with an invaluable resource for the care of children with cardiovascular disease.  Kimball will also expand the Heart Center’s portfolio of cardiovascular research and play a central role in the education of learners.

“It is a great privilege to join an institution where cardiac care is already a signature program that helps so many young patients and families across the state,” said Dr. Kimball, upon accepting the position. “I look forward to joining a vibrant team and capitalizing on the exciting opportunities that lie ahead as the hospital continues its transformation, particularly in pediatric cardiology, and as we expand the scope of services that we can provide for the children of New Orleans and for others throughout the Gulf Coast region.”

Children’s Hospital has the only dedicated Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit in the region. The 20-bed unit will be expanded with all private rooms to serve children in need of this incredibly specialized care. It will also include a special area for neonates who come from birthing hospitals around the state for delicate heart surgeries.

The new heart catheterization lab at Children’s Hospital uses state-of-the-art technology to diagnose and treat many congenital heart defects without having to go through open heart surgery. The first of its kind in the state of Louisiana, Children’s Hospital is just the fourth Pediatric Heart Center in the United States to incorporate this technology into the care of patients with congenital heart disease.

A native of California, Dr. Kimball graduated with distinction and honors from Stanford University and earned his medical degree from New York University. He completed his pediatric internship and residency at Children's Hospital of Los Angeles and his pediatric cardiology fellowship at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.

“Dr. Kimball is one of the preeminent pediatric cardiologists in the country.  His choice to join us at CHNOLA affirms our ability to attract top talent in pediatric specialties,” said Dr. George Bisset, III, Chief Medical Officer at Children's Hospital. “Dr. Kimball’s skills and experience will provide leadership and direction for our growing cardiology programs.”

“As we reinvent CHNOLA as the center of pediatric healthcare expertise in the Gulf South, we will look to attract leaders with proven abilities and visionary perspective. Tom Kimball is such a transformational leader,” said Dr. Raymond G. Watts, Head, Department of Pediatrics of LSU Health and Pediatrician-in-Chief of CHNOLA. “Dr. Kimball will join us in putting the needs of children first in our quest for clinical, educational and research excellence.”

Dr. Kimball’s appointment comes on the heels of other significant physician leadership developments at Children’s Hospital, including the appointment of George Bisset, III, MD as Chief Medical Officer and Dr. Ellis Arjmand as Surgeon-in-Chief.

“Dr. Kimball’s history of leadership and demonstrated success will be a tremendous benefit to Children’s Hospital,” said Dr. Steve Nelson, Dean, LSU School of Medicine. “We are confident that he will use his previous experience in fostering the growth of cardiology programs to enhance the training future pediatric specialists receive during their residencies.”