Published: May 5, 2026 | Updated: May 11, 2026
Norton Children’s Heart Institute, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine, is pleased to announce that Felix W. Tsai, M.D., MBA, has joined the pediatric cardiothoracic surgery team. Dr. Tsai’s arrival expands our surgical team to three dedicated pediatric heart surgeons, increasing access and capacity while ensuring continuity of care for the complex pediatric cardiac patients at Norton Children’s.
For referring providers, this means improved surgical availability, broader subspecialty expertise and a team equipped to confidently accept even the most complex cases in the region.
Dr. Tsai is a board-certified cardiothoracic surgeon with more than 20 years of experience in pediatric and adult cardiac surgery. His clinical expertise spans congenital heart disease, heart transplantation and advanced surgical management of structural cardiac conditions across all age groups.
Dr. Tsai earned his medical degree from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois. He completed residencies in general surgery at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Morristown, and in cardiothoracic surgery at George Washington University, Washington, D.C., followed by a specialized fellowship in congenital cardiac surgery at the Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston. He holds board certifications in thoracic and cardiac surgery, with subspecialization certification in congenital cardiac surgery.
Below, Dr. Tsai shares his clinical perspective, research interests and what referring providers should know to better support pediatric cardiac patients.
Q: What drew you to pediatric cardiothoracic surgery as a specialty?
A: Pediatric heart surgery is unique because it combines precision and technical skill, long-term thinking around how repairs function years later, and creativity and adaptability. Every child’s anatomy is slightly different. You’re not just performing a procedure — you’re designing a solution that will evolve as the child grows.
There’s also a different perspective on outcomes. In pediatric care, a reoperation often isn’t a failure; it’s part of a planned, staged journey that allows a child to survive and thrive over time.
Q: Your background includes both cardiothoracic surgery and electrophysiology collaboration. How does that benefit patient care?
A: Electrophysiology (EP) is highly precise. EP physicians are essentially the engineers of cardiology. Working closely with EP teams improves management of postoperative arrhythmias, device placement (pacemakers, defibrillators) and opportunities for minimally invasive approaches. That collaboration ultimately leads to better, more comprehensive care, especially for patients with complex conditions requiring both structural and rhythm management.
Q: What experiences have most shaped your approach?
A: Two themes have consistently shaped the surgeon I am today: international experience and program building. I’ve operated across different health systems in Saudi Arabia, Kazakhstan, New Zealand and the United States. While resources and cultures vary, the goal is always the same: safe, effective care for children. That requires patience, listening and adaptability.
One of the most rewarding parts of my career is building teams around a shared goal. Pediatric heart surgery is not about one individual; the journey includes a cardiologist, intensivist, anesthesiologist, nursing, perfusion and many others. Unless you have close coordination and common goals, you won’t have great outcomes. Bringing all those pieces together is a challenge I greatly enjoy.
Q: Where can referring pediatricians make the biggest impact?
A: Pediatricians are truly the gatekeepers of congenital and acquired heart disease. Early recognition is critical. If something isn’t identified, it won’t be referred, and that can delay care.
Two areas stand out: recognizing subtle signs of congenital heart disease in newborns, and identifying arrhythmias early. Many rhythm issues can be managed effectively with timely referral, whether through medication, monitoring or device therapy. I see my role as helping fill in knowledge gaps and strengthening that collaboration.
Q: Are there emerging trends referring providers should be especially aware of?
A: Pediatric heart failure is one of the most important — and often underrecognized — trends right now. We’re seeing a growing population of patients with congenital heart disease living into adulthood, which means long-term complications we didn’t previously anticipate. Heart failure also is presenting earlier in pediatric populations, including patients without prior surgery, such as those with genetic conditions or spontaneous mutations.
Key points for referring providers:
Early referral allows us to intervene with medications, monitoring and advanced therapies before patients become critically ill.
Q: What innovation will most impact pediatric heart care in the coming years?
A: Mechanical circulatory support is expanding what’s possible for pediatric patients. We’re adapting adult devices for smaller patients, advancing pediatric-specific technologies like the Berlin Heart and developing new solutions for complex populations such as failing Fontan patients. These innovations are creating new pathways, including bridging to transplant, for patients who previously had limited or no options.
Q: Can you explain why Fontan patients are a growing area of focus?
A: Fontan patients are born with single-ventricle physiology, functioning with one pumping chamber instead of two. While surgical advances allow these children to survive into adulthood, the physiology places long-term strain on the body. Over time, many develop heart failure and other complications. Emerging device technologies are now giving us new ways to stabilize these patients and potentially bridge them to transplant — dramatically changing the trajectory of care.
Q: What are your primary research interests moving forward?
A: I’m particularly interested in improving how we use data and predictive analytics — developing better computational models and applying biostatistics to refine patient care. We’ve traditionally focused on mortality as a primary metric, but that’s only part of the story. The future lies in integrating outcomes data, leveraging predictive analytics and participating in collaborative registries. This will allow us to better anticipate complications and personalize treatment for each child.
Q: Why Norton Children’s — and what excites you about joining the team?
A: The culture stood out immediately. I met with 39 different people before making the decision to join, and across every interaction, with physicians, nurses, leadership and staff, there was a clear, shared commitment to patients and families. That kind of alignment is rare.
What excites me most is the opportunity to build on a strong existing foundation, expand advanced heart failure and transplant programs, and collaborate with a highly engaged team and community. It’s a place where innovation and compassionate, family-centered care go hand in hand.
Dr. Tsai’s addition to Norton Children’s Heart Institute, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine, reflects an ongoing commitment to offering a program that referring providers — and their patients — can count on, delivering the depth of expertise that pediatric cardiac patients across the region deserve.