Dr. Suzanne L. Wolden

Dr. Suzanne L. Wolden, MD, is a distinguished pediatric radiation oncologist who has served as Director of Pediatric Radiation Oncology on the MSK Kids team at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center since 1998. In this role, she cares for children and young adults with cancer as a member of the pediatric, ophthalmic, and bone marrow transplant disease management teams, working in close collaboration with specialists across these disciplines. Her clinical expertise spans a wide range of rare pediatric malignancies, including sarcomas, brain tumors, neuroblastoma, Wilms' tumor, lymphoma, and leukemia. Recognizing that young patients are especially vulnerable to long-term treatment side effects, she approaches each case individually, designing highly customized radiation therapy plans aimed at maximizing therapeutic benefit while minimizing harm.

Dr. Wolden is a leader in advanced, targeted radiation techniques for pediatric cancers, including proton therapy, intensity-modulated radiation therapy, image-guided radiation therapy, and intra-operative radiation therapy. Within the Brain Tumor Center, she treats all children and teenagers with cancers of the brain and spinal cord, and her clinical research has directly shaped treatment approaches for medulloblastoma and central nervous system germ cell tumors. Her work consistently reflects a commitment to preserving long-term quality of life alongside achieving the highest possible survival rates. She oversees large international studies for the Children's Oncology Group in soft-tissue sarcoma and Hodgkin lymphoma, and contributes to research on the late effects of radiation therapy through her collaboration with the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study.

Dr. Wolden is actively involved in numerous clinical trials and remains a strong advocate for outcomes-focused, compassionate cancer care. She finds deep meaning in working alongside a team that combines extraordinary expertise with genuine empathy for patients and families navigating a cancer diagnosis. Her ongoing research efforts aim to advance cure rates while improving the long-term well-being of children and young adults affected by cancer.