Meet the Team
One in 100 infants is born with congenital heart disease. With over 50 years of experience in pediatric interventional cardiology, Drs Dana Janssen, George Nicholson, and Tom Doyle of the Monroe Carrell Jr Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt University Medical Center were too familiar with the lack of dedicated therapeutic options for children with congenital heart disease.
They understood the challenges of trying to advance the development of technologies designed for a niche market. Their specialty, pediatric interventional cardiology, had been born out of the “off-label” use of equipment designed to treat adult diseases.
Tyler Thayer also knew the therapeutic challenges of congenital heart disease through personal experience with his child. Rather than waiting for technology to advance, he used his entrepreneurial spirit to found Project Heart, a non-profit organization supporting research dedicated to treating congenital heart disease, along with his wife, Erika.
It didn’t take long for Tyler, Dana, George and Tom to realize their shared passion, commitment, and dedication would make a great team. Thus began Influent Medical, a company dedicated to the development of technology designed for the treatment of congenital heart disease.
Tyler Thayer
Tyler Thayer is a Nashville native with an entrepreneurial spirit. He received a BS in Architecture and a MA in History & Theory of Architecture from the University of Tennessee. He is the Founding Principal of Paradym Studio, an architecture and design firm in Brentwood, TN. Tyler is passionate about strong, sustainable projects that create cultures and environments that positively impact the community.
Tyler and his wife, Erica founded Project Heart, a nonprofit dedicated to funding Congenital Heart Disease research after their son, Calvin, was born with Tricuspid Atresia and Transposition of the Great Arteries. Tyler is honored to be a part of the Influent Medical team and see new medical advancements improve the quality of life of individuals living with CHD.
Thomas P. Doyle, MD FACC, FSCAI, FPICS
Dr. Doyle is the Ann and Monroe Carell Jr. Professor of Pediatrics, and Clinical Director of the Division of Pediatric Cardiology at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. He graduated from the University of Arizona School of Medicine and completed his Pediatric Residency at the University of Maryland, where he was Chief Resident.
His passion for pediatric cardiology led to Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship training at Yale University. Upon completion of his pediatric cardiology training, Dr. Doyle became an interventional cardiologist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. He was the first trained pediatric interventional cardiologist in the state of Tennessee and introduced numerous new techniques to the State including percutaneous PDA closure, vascular stent implantation, and device closure of atrial and ventricular septal defects. Dr. Doyle, along with his partners Dr. George Nicholson and Dr. Dana Janssen, have built the largest pediatric interventional cardiology program in the state. Dr. Doyle’s interest in device design and development to improve the care of children with congenital heart disease led to the development of the Atlas Vascular Resistor and Ohm PDA Stent System.
Dana R. Janssen, MD FSCAI
Dr. Janssen earned an undergraduate degree at Abilene Christian University in biochemistry. He then attended medical school at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. After his internship in internal medicine, he completed his residency in pediatrics. Dr. Janssen did a general pediatric cardiology fellowship followed by an additional year training in interventional cardiology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
He is director of the Pediatric catheterization lab at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt and an Associate Professor of Pediatrics. He developed an interest in physiology in college and inherited an ability to build things from his father.
George T. Nicholson, MD FSCAI FPICS
Dr. Nicholson obtained his medical doctorate from Loyola University Chicago, Stritch School of Medicine. He completed his pediatric internship and residency at The Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, Albert Einstein College of Medicine in Bronx, NY. Dr. Nicholson then completed his pediatric cardiology fellowship at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Emory University with an advanced fellowship in interventional cardiac catheterization for structural and congenital cardiac defects.
Dr. Nicholson’s passion is for the design and development of medical devices tailored to improving the outcomes for children with congenital heart disease.
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