Christopher R. Forrest

Christopher R. Forrest is a Professor in the Department of Surgery, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto and is the Medical Director of the Craniofacial Program at the Hospital for Sick Children.
He received his medical training at the University of Toronto and completed his fellowship in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery also at the University of Toronto in 1990. He is a graduate of the Surgeon Scientist Program at the University of Toronto and received post graduate fellowship training in the area of adult and pediatric craniomaxillofacial surgery.

He commenced his university appointment at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in 1993 and moved to the Hospital for Sick Children in 1999 as the Medical Director of the Craniofacial Program. He is an internationally recognized expert in pediatric cleft and craniofacial disorders.

Dr. Forrest became the chief of the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive in January 2003 and stepped down from this position in October 2022 after almost 20 years. During his tenure, the division grew from 5 to 10 full time academic staff making it the largest division of pediatric plastic surgeons in North America with internationally recognized expertise in all aspects of pediatric care. Since he began to work at the Hospital for Sick Children, Dr. Forrest oversaw the training of over 150 fellows in pediatric and craniofacial surgery from all around the globe.

After almost 2 years as the interim Chair, he was appointed Chair of the Division of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery, Department of Surgery, at the University of Toronto in 2013 and stepped down in October 2022 after 12 years at the helm. He has published over 200 peer reviewed papers, authored many book chapters and has presented over 400 scientific presentations. He has research interests in surgical simulation, global outreach, patient reported outcome measures and the application of surgical robotics in craniofacial surgery.

In October 2023, Dr. Forrest completed a 1-year sabbatical at Sydney Children’s Hospital Network, Sydney, Australia to help enhance the craniofacial program there and train new staff. He has just completed an 8-month work term in the Division of Plastic and Oral Maxillofacial Surgery at Duke University Medical Centre in Durham, North Carolina. He has now returned to his position as Medical Director of the Craniofacial Program at the Hospital for Sick Children and has no intention of leaving in the foreseeable future.