Thomas R. Kimball, MD
Co-Director, The Heart Center at Children's Hospital New Orleans
Dr. Thomas Kimball is the Director of the Heart Center and Division Chief
of Cardiology at Children’s Hospital New Orleans. A native of Oakland,
California, he received his undergraduate degree at Stanford University.
Dr. Kimball attended medical school at New York University followed by
a pediatric residency at Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles. He
completed a cardiology fellowship at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital
and remained at that institution as an attending cardiologist for 34 years.
Dr. Kimball is currently the Nelson K Ordway Professor of Pediatrics at
the LSU Health Center, and is board-certified in both Pediatrics and Pediatric
Cardiology. His clinical interests include non-invasive cardiac imaging
and pediatric coronary artery disease (Kawasaki Disease and congenital
anomalies of the coronaries). His research interests relate to the cardiovascular
effects of obesity and decreasing patients lost to follow-up rates. Dr.
Kimball values the physician/patient relationship because it is career-defining
to see his patients who were once critically ill babies develop into healthy
husbands/wives, college graduates and elite athletes.
Frank A. Pigula, MD
Co-Director, The Heart Center at Children's Hospital New Orleans
One of the country’s most accomplished congenital heart surgeons,
Dr. Frank Pigula joined Children’s Hospital New Orleans as Chief
of Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery and Co-Director of The Heart Center
in January 2021. Dr. Pigula brings a level of experience and expertise
in congenital heart surgery that is unmatched in the region.
Dr. Pigula’s extensive background includes 12 years as Clinical Director
of Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery at Boston Children’s Hospital,
the number 1 ranked Children’s Hospital in the country by US News
& World Report. Dr. Pigula has also held leadership positions in cardiac
surgery at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Norton Children’s
(formerly Kosair Children’s), and most recently at AdventHealth
Children’s Hospital in Orlando, FL.
After completing his residency in surgery at the University of Vermont,
Dr. Pigula completed fellowships in Cardiothoracic Surgery at the University
of Pittsburgh and in Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery at Boston Children’s
Hospital. An accomplished academician, he is the author of more than 140
peer reviewed articles and 25 book chapters and invited reviews.
Rosanne Hallford, RN
Service Line Director
Rosanne Hallford serves as Service Line Director for the Heart Center at
Children’s Hospital New Orleans, first joining Children’s
in 2017 as CICU Nurse Director. Prior to joining Children’s Hospital,
she has gained experiences throughout various Pediatric Cardiac Programs
over the past 20 years, both in California and Florida. Rosanne earned
her Master’s of Science in Nursing degree from University of Texas
Arlington.
