Alumni Spotlight: Malcolm Sutherland-Foggio'12

FOR SOMEONE who has dealt with a lot of hardship in his life, Malcolm Sutherland-Foggio ’12 continues to see opportunity despite life’s obstacles.

As a fifth-grader at Peck, Sutherland- Foggio was diagnosed with a pediatric bone cancer called pelvic Ewing’s sarcoma, underwent intensive chemotherapy, and had half of his pelvis removed.

As it would for many, the experience defined the course of Sutherland-Foggio’s life, but perhaps not in the way you might expect. Before his cancer was in remission—and while he was 11 years old, still an Upper Schooler at Peck— Sutherland-Foggio and his mom, Julie Sutherland, founded a pedatric cancer research non-profit called Make Some Noise. Over the next several years, he would go on to raise more than $2 million

and help to shine a spotlight on the prevelance of pediatric cancer.

After matriculating to Delbarton School and then the University of Rochester, Sutherland-Foggio graduated college in 2020 with degrees in business and psychology. He then studied the intersection of climate, environment, and society in the university’s Take Five Scholars program. This program, unique to the University of Rochester, offers students a tuition-free semester or year to pursue an additional area of interest unrelated to their field of study.

Intending to pursue a PhD in clinical psychology, Sutherland-Foggio took a detour.

That detour led him to a job as a Clinical Research Coordinator at the Abigail Wexner Research Institute’s Center for Biobehavioral Health at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. Now, he not only conducts research, but he also brings joy to the lives of children in treatment for pediatric cancer. Relying heavily on his warm, gentle demeanor and colorful bow tie collection, Sutherland- Foggio knows firsthand how important it is to bring a smile to a child each day.

“I realized I need to get more experience before I continue on in my studies. It’s been really great to be here,” he said via Zoom, sporting a bright orange bow tie with gray elephants. “It was kind of a dream come true to get this job because it aligns with all my interests, and it’s giving me a lot of experience.”

That experience includes a presentation on the factors associated with adolescent decision-making, and involvement in care in the context of advanced cancer for which he receieved the Palliative Care and End of Life Special Interest Group Poster Award from the Society of Pediatric Psychology. He also co-authored the article “Facebook Recruitment for Research of Children and Parents during the COVID-19 Pandemic” in Applied Nursing Research.

Sutherland-Foggio’s desire to turn a personal hardship into opportunities to help others—first through his non-profit, and now as a career—stems first and foremost from his upbringing as he credits his mom with the founding of Make Some Noise. Peck Kairos Nights (tech and homework-free family evenings planned twice a year), he says, also deserve some of the credit.

“I remember having family conversations about what’s the right thing to do in different situations,” he said.

The InDeCoRe values taught at Peck— care, respect, gratitude, courage, and resilience—and the intentional focus on character development are critical for students, especially in a kindergarten through eighth-grade setting.

SutherlandFoggio has shown courage and resilience in spades, however he doesn’t prescribe to the cliché ‘You can do anything you put your mind to.’ Looking at his journal, he said he does live by the mantra: “It will never be now again.”

“Kids now have such an opportunity to create huge amounts of impact at a young age,” Sutherland-Foggio remarks, citing technological advancements in social media that provide large audiences for content.

“It’s about following your passions, doing things that make you happy, and finding ways for those passions to be beneficial to others.”

He also feels strongly that young people, especially those who grow up with a privileged life, have a responsibility to do good for others.

“Nothing is handed to you,” he advises today’s Peck students. “If you want to be successful, you have to do it yourself, you have to work hard, and that’s not just go to school, do your work, go home, and done. You keep on working until there’s nothing more to be done.”

Which is exactly what Sutherland-Foggio plans to do. While he still plans to apply to graduate school, he says his future also includes some combination of research and clinical work.

Given his unique perspective as a cancer survivor, and now as a person living with a disabilty as a result of his cancer, Sutherland-Foggio hopes to make a positive impact on the lives of pediatric cancer patients, one humorous bow tie at a time.

“Every time I get to interact with the kids it’s a good day,” he shared. “Kids are so resilient. We’re always doing our best just to have a good day. These kids are thankful to just be alive.”

The Peck School is a K-8, co-ed, independent school in Morristown, NJ. www.peckschool.org

We set the standard for excellence in K-8 education, where academic preparation and character development intersect powerfully in the learning experience. By embedding consideration of others, service, and belonging in all that we do, we are designing an integrated approach to education that develops curious and disciplined learners who positively shape the world. Follow us for more:

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