Suzanne P. MacFarland, MD

Suzanne P. MacFarland, MD, is an attending physician in the Division of Oncology and the Director of the Cancer Predisposition Program at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). She specializes in treating children with pediatric cancer predisposition syndromes including Li-Fraumeni Syndrome and pediatric polyposis syndromes such as Juvenile Polyposis Syndrome, Familial Adenomatous Polyposis, Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, and PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome.  She is also a member of the Solid Tumor team, specializing in the diagnosis and management of pediatric solid tumors, with a focus on liver tumors. 

Her research is focused primarily on understanding the cause and improving the surveillance in these predisposition syndromes, particularly in pediatric polyposis syndromes and Li-Fraumeni syndrome.  She hopes that with improved methods of surveillance we can detect tumors at an earlier stage where treatment may be less intensive.  “Because they are at risk of further cancers down the line, we need to be thoughtful about their treatment and surveillance,” she says.

She chose to specialize in pediatric oncology out of a heartfelt desire to help children and families through some of life’s most challenging moments. She believes CHOP is particularly well-equipped to support children and their families, through many resources developed to treat each patient as an individual and to recognize their needs in the context of their family and community. “I hope every family leaves their first appointment at CHOP feeling like they have a team that is on their side,” she says. 

Dr. MacFarland earned her medical degree from the New York University School of Medicine in 2011. She completed her residency in Pediatrics as well as a fellowship in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at CHOP in 2017.

She has won several awards for her work and patient care during her tenure at CHOP, including the Teddy Beddrossian Compassionate Care Award (2013), Senior Resident Humanitarian Award (2014) and the Pediatric Fellowship Teaching Award (2015). Dr. MacFarland also serves on the Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Committee and the Pediatric Intern Selection Committee.  She is also the co-founder of the Spirituality in Medicine discussion group. 

In addition to seeing patients she is also an assistant professor in the Division of Oncology, Department of Pediatrics at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine.

Currently, Dr. MacFarland’s research efforts are focused on pediatric polyposis syndromes and Li-Fraumeni syndrome. She says she is particularly interested in work that can improve methods of diagnosis as well as potential preventative measures for patients who are at risk of cancer.