Memorial Sloan Kettering pediatric oncologist Tara O'Donohue

Tara O’Donohue, MD, MS

Pediatric Oncologist

Titles

Assistant Attending Pediatrician

Clinical Expertise

Early Phase Clinical Trials; Precision Oncology; Developmental Therapeutics; Rare Pediatric Tumors; Relapsed and Refractory Tumors in Pediatric and Young Adult Patients; Pediatric Sarcomas

Back to top
Share

New Patient Appointments

Scheduling a visit is easy. Click below or call us to get started.

Schedule an Appointment
1-833-MSK-KIDS
Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., (Eastern time)
Accepted Insurance Providers

Dr. O’Donohue accepts the following list of insurance providers. Select your insurance provider to see more details.

Aetna

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): HMO, EPO PPO, POS, Transplant

Aetna Medicare Advantage (City of NY retirees only, starting 7/1/23)

Payor Type:
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO

Blue Cross Blue Shield Federal Employee Program

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): HMO, PPO

Blue Cross Blue Shield New York

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO, POS, EPO, HMO

Blue Cross Blue Shield states outside of NY/NJ

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): HMO, EPO PPO, POS

Blue Cross Health Plus

Payor Type: Medicaid/Managed Medicaid
In Network Coverage Type(s): HMO

Carrum Health

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): Supplemental

Cigna

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO, POS, HMO

Connecticare

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): POS, EPO, HMO

Emblem

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO, POS, EPO, HMO

Emblem Essential

Payor Type: Medicaid/Managed Medicaid
In Network Coverage Type(s): HMO

Emblem Medicare Advantage

Payor Type:
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO, HMO

Empire Blue Cross Medicare Advantage

Payor Type:
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO, HMO, DSN

Empire Essential

Payor Type: Medicaid/Managed Medicaid
In Network Coverage Type(s): HMO

Empire Plan / NYSHIP (Blue Cross/UnitedHealthcare split plan)

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO

Fidelis

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): HMO, EPO

Fidelis Managed Medicaid & HARP

Payor Type: Medicaid/Managed Medicaid
In Network Coverage Type(s): HMO

Fidelis Medicare Advantage

Payor Type:
In Network Coverage Type(s): HMO

First Health

Payor Type:
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO

Healthfirst

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): EPO, HMO, PPO, POS

Healthfirst Managed Medicaid

Payor Type: Medicaid/Managed Medicaid
In Network Coverage Type(s): HMO

Healthfirst Medicare Advantage

Payor Type:
In Network Coverage Type(s): HMO, PPO

Healthsmart

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO EPO

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield New Jersey (HMO)

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): HMO

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield New Jersey (PPO)

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield New Jersey Omnia Tier I (EPO)

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): EPO

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield New Jersey Omnia Tier II (EPO)

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): EPO

Horizon Medicare Advantage

Payor Type:
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO, HMO

Husky CT Medicaid

Payor Type: Medicaid/Managed Medicaid
In Network Coverage Type(s): State Government

Magnacare

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO, POS, EPO

Medicare Part A&B (traditional Medicare)

Payor Type:
In Network Coverage Type(s): Federal Government

Multiplan/Beech Street/PHCS

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): Supplemental

MVP

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO/OAP

Non-Participating Plans with Out of Network Benefits

Payor Type: Other
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO, POS, EPO, HMO

NYC Medicare Advantage Plus for City Employees

Payor Type:
In Network Coverage Type(s): TBD

Oscar

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): HMO/EPO

Oxford

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO, EPO

Qualcare

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO, POS, HMO

Straight NJ Medicaid

Payor Type: Medicaid/Managed Medicaid
In Network Coverage Type(s): State Government

Straight NY Medicaid

Payor Type: Medicaid/Managed Medicaid
In Network Coverage Type(s): State Government

Tricare

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO, HMO

UMR

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO, POS

United Healthcare

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO, POS, HMO

World Trade Center Health Program (WTC)

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): State Government

Contact and Location

Locations map
Find a Convenient Location

Memorial Sloan Kettering has locations throughout New York City, Long Island, New Jersey, and Westchester. These locations offer many services, including screening, chemotherapy, and medical testing.

See all locations

About Me

Education

MD, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School; MS, Weill Cornell Medicine Clinical & Translational Science Center

Residencies

Pediatrics - NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center

Fellowships

Pediatric Hematology/Oncology - Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center/Weill Cornell Medicine

Board Certifications

Pediatrics; Pediatric Hematology/Oncology

I am a pediatric oncologist on the MSK Kids team who specializes in early-phase clinical trials evaluating promising new treatments for pediatric cancers. I am a member of the Sarcoma Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK), where I care for pediatric and young adult patients with soft-tissue and bone sarcomas, as well as rare pediatric solid tumors.

Read more

At MSK, I also help lead the Pediatric Translational Medicine Program’s (PTMP) clinical service. This program allows us to closely study and sequence tumors for mutations and other molecular changes in every child and young adult with cancer at MSK. The information that we learn about a patient’s tumor may provide valuable clues that can be used to select the most appropriate therapies for each patient. It also allows us to start new research projects and develop potentially lifesaving drugs.

Many of the early-phase clinical trials that we conduct through the PTMP are focused on getting the “right drug” to the “right patient.” Historically, we would treat all patients with a certain type of cancer the same way; however, thanks to recent advances in genomic profiling and increased accessibility of these technologies, we are starting to understand what makes each tumor different. This means that we can tailor treatments to the unique biology of a patient’s cancer.

It is not only exciting due to the rapid advances in scientific discovery in our field, but also because these findings may have broad-reaching impact, improving patient outcomes on a large scale.

Patients and families who are seeking early-phase clinical trials have often already gone through so much, and I acknowledge that finding the right trial can be a long and strenuous process. Therefore, when I meet a patient and their family for the first time, I try to learn as much as I can about them, as each child and family have unique experiences, values, and goals. This way, I am best positioned to support each patient and family based on their specific situation and preferences while considering the most up to date scientific evidence when creating a treatment plan with our dedicated team of experts at MSK Kids (physicians, advance practice providers, nurses, pharmacists, social workers, researchers, and more).

I initially became interested in pediatric cancer care and research when a family member of mine was being treated at MSK. At the time, I decided to volunteer with Child Life Services, and I was completely in awe of the pediatric patients’ resilience and their families’ strength and grace. I am humbled to be able to provide care for children and young adults affected by cancer, and I am honored to do so alongside an incredibly dedicated team at MSK Kids who work tirelessly to inch closer to finding a cure for pediatric cancer.

Awards and Honors

  • Research Fellow, Margaux’s Miracle Foundation (2020)
  • Medical Oncology Fellow, The Kristen Ann Carr Fund (2019)
  • Betty Neuwirth Lee Fellow (2018)

Colleagues

Doctors at Memorial Sloan Kettering work as teams, with specialists from all different areas. This allows us to consider all your needs together, and to give you the best possible care.

See all Pediatrics doctors

Clinical Trials

Smiling doctors in the lab
Find a Clinical Trial for You

Memorial Sloan Kettering's doctors and scientists are constantly developing new treatments for cancer. MSK is typically running hundreds of clinical trials at a given time.

You may be able to participate in a clinical trial even if you are new to MSK. Search our online directory to find trial information and see more about who can participate.

Search clinical trials