Paediatric medical oncologists specialise in the investigation, study, diagnosis, management, and treatment of infants, children, and adolescents with a predisposition to, suspected, or confirmed benign and malignant growths, tumours, cancers, and diseases, including blood disorders. They also provide consultation to and care for patients requiring haematopoietic stem cell transplantation or cellular therapies.

Paediatric medical oncologists exhibit these key attributes and skills to diagnose, treat, and support patients with cancer and other conditions:

Expert diagnostic skills. Paediatric medical oncologists must be able to effectively determine which type of cancer / benign neoplasm their patients have, and stage them appropriately. A correct diagnosis is essential to ensure correct treatment is delivered. 

Broad clinical experience and skills. Paediatric medical oncology is a multidisciplinary specialty that requires proficiency in medical sciences, clinical medicine, diagnostic medicine, and pharmacology. Paediatric medical oncology requires a breadth of clinical experience and skills in caring for acute medical problems and chronic illness, patients’ and families’ emotional needs, symptom control, and end-of-life care.

Evidence-based treatment and therapy. Paediatric medical oncologists use a broad range of preventative, potentially curative, and palliative medicines, such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, molecular targeted agents, cellular therapy, analgesics, and other supportive care medication. A key role of a paediatric medical oncologist is to assess and manage patients' additional symptoms related to cancer, as well as complications that may arise through treatment, such as pain and infections using effective evidence-based techniques.

Research. Paediatric medical oncologists contribute to cancer research (therapeutics, biology, epidemiology, and clinical outcomes research). This includes health education and clinical teaching and ethics. Cancer research is constantly evolving, so paediatric medical oncologists must remain abreast of current research to continue to provide optimal patient care. To do this, they may attend medical conferences, read industry journals and reports, and attend training workshops to stay informed of the current best evidenced cancer treatments, methods, and emerging therapeutics. Providing patient access to and managing or coordinating clinical trials is an integral part of paediatric medical oncology.

Lead and work in a multidisciplinary team. Paediatric medical oncologists lead and participate in multidisciplinary teams, coordinating the contributions of different health care professionals to provide patients with holistic care. This requires the ability to work in a team, as well as excellent communication skills with other team members.

Interpersonal and communication skills. Cancer patients and their family and/or carers may often experience profound emotional vulnerability after a cancer diagnosis. Paediatric medical oncologists must use compassion, empathy, and clear and responsive communication techniques, and care for and support their patients and their families, whānau and/or carers throughout the trajectory of their illness and survivorship until transition to adult survivorship programs or death.

Teaching. The roles of paediatric medical oncologists include teaching responsibilities, educating patients and their families, whānau, and/or carers about their conditions, and training junior doctors, medical students and allied health care professionals.

Last modified: Wednesday, 20 August 2025, 3:47 PM