Rune Toms, MD, MSc, FAAP, FACC
System Chief, Neonatal & Perinatal Services
Dr. Rune Toms is a triple board–certified neonatologist and pediatric cardiologist who serves as chief of Neonatal and Perinatal Services for Nicklaus Children’s Health System. He earned his medical degree from Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich, Germany, completed residency and fellowship training in pediatrics, neonatology, and pediatric cardiology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and holds a Master of Science in Healthcare Quality and Safety from the same institution. Dr. Toms pursued advanced training with a pediatric cardiac intensive care senior fellowship at Harvard Medical School/Boston Children’s Hospital. He is board certified in general pediatrics, pediatric cardiology, neonatal-perinatal medicine and also possesses a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification.
In his role as system chief of Neonatal and Perinatal Services, Dr. Toms leads systemwide efforts to advance neonatal and perinatal care for infants with complex medical and surgical needs and oversees collaborations with maternal-fetal medicine specialists, obstetricians, and community partners to support families from prenatal diagnosis through the newborn period to their transition to pediatric care.
Before joining Nicklaus Children’s, Dr. Toms served as national medical director for Women’s and Children’s Services at Envision Healthcare, overseeing outcomes and operations for more than 60 NICUs and 400 physicians nationwide. He has also held leadership roles as chief of Neonatology at HCA Florida University Hospital and regional medical director for seven NICUs in South Florida, where he spearheaded initiatives to reduce infant mortality and improve outcomes for complex neonatal and cardiac patients. Earlier in his career, Dr. Toms was on the medical staff of the University of Alabama Children’s Hospital for more than 12 years, where he held various leadership roles, including as medical director of the NICU. During his tenure at UAB, Dr. Toms was responsible for building the neonatal cardiac ICU program and led collaborations between the NICU, pediatric CICU and pediatric cardiology departments.
An accomplished educator and researcher, Dr. Toms has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and book chapters. He co-founded The Incubator Podcast in 2021, an educational resource for the neonatology community that provides accessible insights into rapidly evolving evidence-based practices. The podcast is available in various languages and reaches 170 countries.
Dr. Toms is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and American College of Cardiology.
He is employed by Nicklaus Children’s Pediatric Specialists (NCPS), the multispecialty medical group practice of Nicklaus Children’s Health System.