Portrait of Christopher R. Forrest

Christopher R. Forrest

MD, MSc, FRCSC, FACS, FRACS
Professor
Division of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery
Temerty Faculty of Medicine
University of Toronto

Bio

Christopher R. Forrest 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.

Dr. Forrest is the former chief of the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive (January 2003 to October 2022) and former Chair of the Division of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery (2011 to 2022). 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. He is an internationally recognized expert in pediatric cleft and craniofacial disorders and has been involved in the training of over 150 fellows from around the world.

View full profile

Research
Interests

  • Morphologic analysis of pediatric cleft and craniofacial conditions
  • Outcomes in Pierre Robin Sequence
  • Outcomes in pediatric cleft and craniofacial surgery

Recent Relevant
Publications

Nasal monobloc osteotomy for correction of late nasal and orbital asymmetry of unicoronal synostosis: A morphometric and outcomes study.

Ching JA, Koehl EM, Novak CB, Branson HM, Forrest CR. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2024 Mar;90:122-129.

Comparative Outcomes of Fronto-Orbital Advancement and Strip Craniectomy in the Management of Metopic Craniosynostosis.

Sivieng J, Marucci D, Rtshiladze M, Cebron U, Low T, Nakhla R, Olsson G, Mitchell R, Reddy R, Huang C, Jacobson E, Marcus JR, Forrest CR. J Craniofac Surg. 2026 May 11.

Proxy- and Patient-Reported Outcome Measures in Cleft Lip and/or Palate Under 8 Years of Age: A Scoping Review.

Joachim K, D'Souza A, Howard J, Drucker AM, Forrest CR, Wong Riff KWY. Cleft Palate Craniofac J. 2025 Dec 16

Psychosocial Outcomes of the Stanford Orthodontic Airway Plate (OAP) Treatment in Caregivers and Children With Pierre Robin Sequence.

Wagner CS, Choo H, Forrest CR, Wan DC, Park JY, Umbaugh H, Crerand CE.Cleft Palate Craniofac J. 2026 May 22:10556656261451965

Struggling with Discrimination: An Intersectional Exploration of Why Unequal Social Relations Persist in Residency Training Programs.

Lam JTH, Giroux RJ, Yan H, Atkinson AR, Kulkarni AV, Forrest CR, Martimianakis MAT. Perspect Med Educ. 2026 Feb 10;15(1):105-121.

Comparative Analysis of Hospital Charges in Infants With Robin Sequence: Nonsurgical Orthodontic Airway Plate Versus Surgical Mandibular Distraction.

Krakauer KN, Forrest CR, Park JY, Zhang J, Olivares M, Ly M, Komondor K, Lorenz PH, Wan DC, Choo H.Cleft Palate Craniofac J. 2026 May 29:10556656261450712.

Does Socioeconomic Disadvantage Delay Access to Care for Craniosynostosis? A Study of 200 Children in Australia's Universal Healthcare Context.

Thakur I, Chelliah A, Čebron U, Aggarwala S, Olsson G, Forrest CR, Marucci D.ANZ J Surg. 2026 May 24. doi:

PubMed profile Google Scholar profile

Explore the Fellowship

Learn more about the clinical experience, training structure, research opportunities, and life as a fellow at SickKids.

Explore the Program