Antonio J. Forte, M.D., Ph.D.

Antonio J. Forte, MD, PhD, is a plastic and reconstructive surgeon at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida. He has comprehensive training in all aspects of cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery, with particular expertise in hand surgery, microsurgery, lymphedema surgery, and peripheral nerve surgery for the treatment of trigger-point headaches.

Patients from throughout Florida, the United States, and internationally seek Dr. Forte's expertise for advanced reconstructive procedures, including hand surgery, lymphovenous bypass surgery for lymphedema, and nerve decompression surgery to reduce or alleviate trigger-point headaches and associated migraine symptoms.

Dr. Forte has particular expertise in the microsurgical treatment of lymphedema following breast cancer treatment. He performs lymphovenous bypass surgery, an innovative procedure that can significantly improve lymphatic drainage, reduce swelling, restore limb function, and enhance quality of life for patients with cancer-related lymphedema.

He also specializes in occipital and supraorbital nerve decompression surgery for patients who experience trigger-point headaches. This procedure is designed to reduce the frequency, severity, and duration of headaches in appropriately selected patients.

Dr. Forte completed his residency in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the Yale University School of Medicine, followed by a fellowship in Hand and Microsurgery at The Buncke Clinic. He also earned a Ph.D. in Clinical Surgery with a focus in Plastic Surgery from the University of São Paulo Medical School.

He is a Professor of Plastic Surgery at Mayo Clinic and holds joint appointments in the Departments of Orthopedic Surgery, Neurosurgery, and Artificial Intelligence and Informatics.

In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Forte leads a multidisciplinary research team focused on advancing the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into healthcare. His research spans plastic surgery, clinical decision support, and digital health innovation, with projects that develop AI-powered virtual assistants, AI agents, clinical decision support tools, and multimodal AI systems to enhance patient education, improve clinical workflows, and support clinical decision-making. His work emphasizes the safe, ethical, and practical implementation of AI, particularly in postoperative care and surgical environments.

Dr. Forte also leads a Mayo Clinic laboratory dedicated to the use of AI in healthcare and co-leads an initiative that uses continuous monitoring data from wearable devices and touchless sensors to develop digital biomarkers for pain and disease. He has authored more than 320 peer-reviewed publications and has secured nearly $3 million in research funding.

Outside of medicine, Dr. Forte enjoys traveling, movies, spending time outdoors and being with his family.