Susan Furth, MD, PhD
About Susan Furth, MD, PhD
Executive Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) Susan Furth, MD, PhD, has overseen CHOP Research Institute, a world leader in pediatric biomedical research, since May 2021.
Dr. Furth has been with CHOP since 2010 and previously served as Chief of the Division of Nephrology (2010-2021), Associate Chair of Academic Affairs (2015-2021), and Vice Chair of the Department of Pediatrics (2017-2021). She is an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine, the Association of American Physicians and the Johns Hopkins Society of Scholars. She has been named a Visionary Leader recognized by Becker's Hospital Review in 2025 and recognized with a Philadelphia Business Journal Corporate Leadership Award, 2025.
Dr. Furth’s role as CSO is to foster an environment that facilitates CHOP Research Institute’s commitment to groundbreaking science which translates into innovation and creates life-changing solutions for children and their families. CHOP Research Institute is home to one of the largest pediatric research programs in the country, and it has had a profound impact on advancing care in children. Her leadership reaches far beyond the realm of medicine, as she is committed to training the next generation of physicians and scientists. Her mentorship has been acknowledged by her receipt of the FOCUS Award for the Advancement of Women in Medicine Penn Medicine and the Maureen Andrew Mentor Award, a national award provided by the Society of Pediatric Research and the Association for Clinical and Translational Science Mentorship Innovation Award.
Dr. Furth has ensured that CHOP Research Institute is known for its innovation by prioritizing cell and gene therapy research and omics and big data initiatives. Under her leadership, CHOP Research Institute’s 1,000+ principal investigators and their teams have developed many transformative translational research programs that are bringing much-needed solutions to children more quickly.
Dr. Furth has been recognized by several prestigious organizations for delivering exceptional clinical care, research, and education in nephrology. She was the recipient of the National Kidney Foundation Excellence in Care Award in 2023, the Founder’s Award from the American Society of Pediatric Nephrology in 2025 and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Pediatric Nephrology Association, 2025.
She is an internationally recognized expert in Nephrology, leads several Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) initiatives, and holds the position of Councilor at the International Pediatric Nephrology Association.
Dr. Furth is the host of Bench to Bedside, a podcast that showcases the ingenuity of scientists and staff at CHOP Research Institute who make achievements in pediatric science possible.
Titles
Attending Physician
Professor, Department of Pediatrics and Epidemiology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania
Certifications
Pediatric Nephrology – American Board of Pediatrics
Awards and Honors
2025, Philadelphia Business Journal Corporate Leadership Award
2025, IPNA Lifetime Achievement Award
2025, ASPN Founder’s Award
2023, Elected to the National Academy of Medicine (NAM)
2023, Elected to the Fellowship in The College of Physicians of Philadelphia
Editorial and Academic Positions
Academic positions
2011-present, Department of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania Operating Plan, Committee on Mentorship
2010-present, External Advisory Board, Einstein-Montefiore Institute for Clinical and Translational Research
2008-2009, Chair, Selection Committee for Johns Hopkins KL2 Clinical Research Scholars Program, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutes, Institute for Clinical and Translational Research (ICTR)
2006-2010, Member, Selection Committee for Johns Hopkins K12 Clinical Research Scholars Program, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutes, Institute for Clinical and Translational Research (ICTR)
2006-2010, Member, Executive Committee, “Multidisciplinary Clinical Research Career Development Program” K12, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutes, Institute for Clinical and Translational Research (ICTR)
2005-2010, Member, Clinical and Translational Science Award Application: Training and Education Workgroup, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutes
2005 – 2010, Member, Clinician Scientist Award Committee – Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Selection committee for Junior Faculty salary support award applications
Research Interests
Chronic Kidney Disease in Children Study (CKiD) Neuroimaging in Chronic Kidney Disease Study (NiCK) Teen Adherence in Kidney Transplantation Effectiveness of Intervention Trial (TAKE-IT)
Education & training
Graduate Degree
PhD in Clinical Investigation - Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health, Baltimore, MD
Medical Degree
MD - University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
Internship
Pediatrics - Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD
Residency
Pediatrics - Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD
Fellowship
Pediatric Nephrology - Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD
Publications
Publications
Editorials, Reviews, Chapters
2012
Askenazi D, Smith L, Furth SL, Warady B. Acute and chronic renal failure. In: Devaskar SU, Gleason CA. Avery's diseases of the newborn. 9th ed. Philadelphia: Elsevier; 2012.
2011
Furth SL, Gerson A. Quality of life of children on dialysis. In: Warady BA, Alexander SR, Schaefer F. Pediatric dialysis. 2nd ed. New York: Springer Science and Business Media; 2011.
2009
Furth SL, Fadrowski JJ. Clinical investigation. In: Avner ED, Harmon WE, Niaudet P, Yoshikawa N, editors. Pediatric nephrology. 6th ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins; 2009.
2008
Gerson A, Harrison C, Furth SL. Psychological and ethical issues in chronic kidney disease. In: Geary D, Schaefer F. Comprehensive clinical nephrology. Philadelphia: Mosby, Inc.; 2008.
Tan J, Furth S. Nephrology. In: Johns Hopkins Hospital, Custer J, Rau R, Lee C, editors. The Harriet Lane handbook. 18th ed. Philadelphia: Mosby, Inc.; 2008.
2007
Wong CS, Furth S. Epidemiology of renal disease in children. In: Kher KK, Schnaper HW, Makker SP, editors. Clinical pediatric nephrology. 2nd ed. London (England): Informa UKK Ltd.; 2007. p. 63-70.
Furth SL, Amaral S. Themes across renal disease and renal failure: anemia. In: Molony D, Craig J. Evidence based nephrology. Oxford (UK): Blackwell Publishing; 2007.
2006
Wong C, Furth SL. Epidemiology of chronic kidney disease in children. In: Clinical pediatric nephrology. 2nd ed. Kher K, Makker SP, Schnaper HW. London (UK): Dunitz & Parthenon Publishing; 2006.
2005
Furth SL, Levin A, Schwartz G. Normal kidney function and choice of laboratory studies. In: Hogg RJ, editor. Kidney disorders in children and adolescents: a practical handbook. London (UK): Taylor & Francis; 2005.
2004
Furth SL, Gerson A. Quality of life of children on dialysis. In: Warady BA, Fine RN, Alexander SR, Schaefer F. Pediatric dialysis. Norwell: Kluwer Academic Publishers; 2004.
2003
Furth SL, Fadrowski JJ. Clinical investigation. In: Avner ED, Harmon WE, Niaudet P, editors. Pediatric nephrology. 5th ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins; 2003.
2000
Furth S. Therapy in nephrology and hypertension — a comparison to Brenner and Rector's: the kidney. In: Brady HR, Wilcox CS. Philadelphia: Saunders; 1990.