I am the Director of the Psycho-Oncology program at Wilmot Cancer Center and a medical oncologist specializing in the treatment of head and neck and lung cancers. I completed a combined internal medicine-psychiatry residency followed by subspeciality training in medical oncology/hematology and addi...

Certified Specialties

Hematology - American Board of Internal Medicine

Internal Medicine - American Board of Internal Medicine

Medical Oncology - American Board of Internal Medicine

Faculty Appointments

Associate Professor - Department of Psychiatry (SMD)

Associate Professor - Department of Medicine, Hematology/Oncology (SMD) - Joint

Credentials

Residency & Fellowship

Fellowship, Consultation - Liason Psychiatry, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. 2018 - 2019

Fellowship, Hematology & Oncology, Icahn School of Medicine At Mount Sinai. 2012 - 2015

Residency, Internal Medicine, Psychiatry, Rush University Medical Center. 2008 - 2012

Internship, Internal Medicine, Psychiatry, Rush University Medical Center. 2007 - 2008

Education

DO | New York College of Osteopathic Medicine. 2007

Awards

Nathan Wharton Award.

New Investigator Award.

Outstanding Achievement Award.

Publications

Journal Articles

Insomnia in adult patients with cancer: ESMO Clinical Practice Guideline.

Grassi L, Zachariae R, Caruso R, Palagini L, Campos-Ródenas R, Riba MB, Lloyd-Williams M, Kissane D, Rodin G, McFarland D, Ripamonti CI, Santini D,

ESMO open.. 2023 December 8 (6):102047. Epub 11/21/2023.

Development, Feasibility, and Acceptability of an Oncologist Group Peer Support Program From ASCO's Clinician Well-Being Task Force.

Hlubocky FJ, McFarland DC, Back AL, Friese CR, Lyckholm L, Gallagher CM, McGinnis M, Spence R, Lynch L, Tomkins J, Shanafelt T, Srivastava P

JCO oncology practice.. 2023 August 19 (8):669-675. Epub 06/16/2023.

Anxiety and depression in adult cancer patients: ESMO Clinical Practice Guideline.

Grassi L, Caruso R, Riba MB, Lloyd-Williams M, Kissane D, Rodin G, McFarland D, Campos-Ródenas R, Zachariae R, Santini D, Ripamonti CI,

ESMO open.. 2023 April 8 (2):101155. Epub 03/14/2023.

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) Bleeding Risk: Considerations for the Consult-Liaison Psychiatrist.

McFarland D, Merchant D, Khandai A, Mojtahedzadeh M, Ghosn O, Hirst J, Amonoo H, Chopra D, Niazi S, Brandstetter J, Gleason A, Key G, di Ciccone BL

Current psychiatry reports.. 2023 March 25 (3):113-124. Epub 01/28/2023.

The Risk and The Course of Cancer Among People with Severe Mental Illness.

Grassi L, McFarland D, Riba M

Clinical practice and epidemiology in mental health : CP & EMH.. 2023 19 (Suppl-1):e174501792301032. Epub 12/03/2023.

Violence Against Physicians in the Workplace: Trends, Causes, Consequences, and Strategies for Intervention.

Caruso R, Toffanin T, Folesani F, Biancosino B, Romagnolo F, Riba MB, McFarland D, Palagini L, Belvederi Murri M, Zerbinati L, Grassi L

Current psychiatry reports.. 2022 December 24 (12):911-924. Epub 11/29/2022.

Cancer Pain and Opioid Use Disorder.

Ganguly A, Michael M, Goschin S, Harris K, McFarland DC

Oncology.. 2022 September 736 (9):535-541. Epub 1900 01 01.

Prognosis in metastatic lung cancer: vitamin D deficiency and depression-a cross-sectional analysis.

McFarland DC, Fernbach M, Breitbart WS, Nelson C

BMJ supportive & palliative care.. 2022 September 12 (3):339-346. Epub 08/27/2020.

McFarland DC, Doherty M, Atkinson TM, O'Hanlon R, Breitbart W, Nelson CJ, Miller AH

Cancer.. 2022 July 1128 (13):2504-2519. Epub 04/13/2022.

Potential use of albumin and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio to guide the evaluation and treatment of cancer-related depression and anxiety.

McFarland DC, Applebaum AJ, Bengtsen E, Alici Y, Breitbart W, Miller AH, Nelson C

Psycho-oncology.. 2022 February 31 (2):306-315. Epub 09/04/2021.

Interventions to Improve Prognostic Understanding in Advanced Stages of Life-Limiting Illness: A Systematic Review.

George LS, Matsoukas K, McFarland DC, Bowers JM, Doherty MJ, Kwon YS, Atkinson TM, Kozlov E, Saraiya B, Prigerson HG, Breitbart W

Journal of pain and symptom management.. 2022 February 63 (2):e212-e223. Epub 09/09/2021.

Decisional capacity determination and serious mental illness in oncology: Implications for equitable and beneficent care.

McFarland DC, Voigt L, Alici Y

Psycho-oncology.. 2021 December 30 (12):2052-2059. Epub 09/12/2021.

A Longitudinal Analysis of Inflammation and Depression in Patients With Metastatic Lung Cancer: Associations With Survival.

McFarland DC, Miller AH, Nelson C

Biological research for nursing.. 2021 July 23 (3):301-310. Epub 09/22/2020.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Oncologist Burnout, Emotional Well-Being, and Moral Distress: Considerations for the Cancer Organization's Response for Readiness, Mitigation, and Resilience.

Hlubocky FJ, Symington BE, McFarland DC, Gallagher CM, Dragnev KH, Burke JM, Lee RT, El-Jawahri A, Popp B, Rosenberg AR, Thompson MA, Dizon DS, Srivastava P, Patel MI, Kamal AH, Daugherty CK, Back AL, Dokucu ME, Shanafelt TD

JCO oncology practice.. 2021 July 17 (7):365-374. Epub 02/08/2021.

Occupational and Personal Consequences of the COVID-19 Pandemic on US Oncologist Burnout and Well-Being: A Study From the ASCO Clinician Well-Being Task Force.

Hlubocky FJ, Back AL, Shanafelt TD, Gallagher CM, Burke JM, Kamal AH, Paice JA, Page RD, Spence R, McGinnis M, McFarland DC, Srivastava P

JCO oncology practice.. 2021 July 17 (7):e427-e438. Epub 06/21/2021.

The Sickness Behavior Inventory-Revised: Sickness behavior and its associations with depression and inflammation in patients with metastatic lung cancer.

McFarland DC, Walsh LE, Saracino R, Nelson CJ, Breitbart W, Rosenfeld B

Palliative & supportive care.. 2021 June 19 (3):312-321. Epub 1900 01 01.

Creating a Blueprint of Well-Being in Oncology: An Approach for Addressing Burnout From ASCO's Clinician Well-Being Taskforce.

Hlubocky FJ, Shanafelt TD, Back AL, Paice JA, Tetzlaff ED, Friese CR, Kamal AH, McFarland DC, Lyckholm L, Gallagher CM, Chatwal M, Saltzman J, Dudzinski D, Burke JM, James TA, Page RD, Boyle DA, Gonzalez MM, Srivastava P

American Society of Clinical Oncology educational book. 2021 June 41 :e339-e353. Epub 1900 01 01.

Oncology Care Provider Training in Empathic Communication Skills to Reduce Lung Cancer Stigma.

Banerjee SC, Haque N, Schofield EA, Williamson TJ, Martin CM, Bylund CL, Shen MJ, Rigney M, Hamann HA, Parker PA, McFarland DC, Park BJ, Molena D, Moreno A, Ostroff JS

Chest.. 2021 May 159 (5):2040-2049. Epub 12/16/2020.

Randomized Phase II Trial of Nivolumab With Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy Versus Nivolumab Alone in Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

McBride S, Sherman E, Tsai CJ, Baxi S, Aghalar J, Eng J, Zhi WI, McFarland D, Michel LS, Young R, Lefkowitz R, Spielsinger D, Zhang Z, Flynn J, Dunn L, Ho A, Riaz N, Pfister D, Lee N

Journal of clinical oncology : official journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.. 2021 January 139 (1):30-37. Epub 08/21/2020.

Prognostic implications of depression and inflammation in patients with metastatic lung cancer.

McFarland DC, Saracino RM, Miller AH, Breitbart W, Rosenfeld B, Nelson C

Future oncology.. 2021 January 17 (2):183-196. Epub 12/11/2020.

Therapeutic Strategies to Tackle Burnout and Emotional Exhaustion in Frontline Medical Staff: Narrative Review.

McFarland DC, Hlubocky F

Psychology research and behavior management.. 2021 14 :1429-1436. Epub 09/15/2021.

McFarland DC

Current research in psychiatry.. 2021 1 (1):10-12. Epub 1900 01 01.

Clinical Implications of Cancer Related Inflammation and Depression: A Critical Review.

McFarland DC, Riba M, Grassi L

Clinical practice and epidemiology in mental health : CP & EMH.. 2021 17 (1):287-294. Epub 12/31/2021.

Early childhood adversity in adult patients with metastatic lung cancer: Cross-sectional analysis of symptom burden and inflammation.

McFarland DC, Nelson C, Miller AH

Brain, behavior, and immunity.. 2020 November 90 :167-173. Epub 08/11/2020.

A Response to "Psychological symptoms and survival in patients with metastatic lung cancer: Smoking must be the first concern!".

McFarland DC

Psycho-oncology.. 2020 October 29 (10):1504-1505. Epub 05/23/2020.

A comment on "Newly diagnosed patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer: A clinical description of those with moderate to severe depressive symptoms".

McFarland DC

Lung cancer : journal of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer.. 2020 July 145 :205-207. Epub 05/20/2020.

Decisional Capacity Determination In Patients With Cancer.

McFarland DC, Blackler L, Hlubocky FJ, Saracino R, Masciale J, Chin M, Alici Y, Voigt L

Oncology.. 2020 June 1034 (6):203-210. Epub 1900 01 01.

Physical problem list accompanying the distress thermometer: Its associations with psychological symptoms and survival in patients with metastatic lung cancer.

McFarland DC, Jutagir DR, Miller A, Nelson C

Psycho-oncology.. 2020 May 29 (5):910-919. Epub 03/11/2020.

A Phase II Trial of Albumin-Bound Paclitaxel and Gemcitabine in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Stage IV Squamous Cell Lung Cancers.

Paik PK, Kim RK, Ahn L, Plodkowski AJ, Ni A, Donoghue MTA, Jonsson P, Villalona-Calero M, Ng K, McFarland D, Fiore JJ, Iqbal A, Eng J, Kris MG, Rudin CM

Clinical cancer research : an official journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.. 2020 April 1526 (8):1796-1802. Epub 01/09/2020.

A Call to Action: Ethics Committee Roundtable Recommendations for Addressing Burnout and Moral Distress in Oncology.

Hlubocky FJ, Taylor LP, Marron JM, Spence RA, McGinnis MM, Brown RF, McFarland DC, Tetzlaff ED, Gallagher CM, Rosenberg AR, Popp B, Dragnev K, Bosserman LD, Dudzinski DM, Smith S, Chatwal M, Patel MI, Markham MJ, Levit K, Bruera E, Epstein RM, Brown M, Back AL, Shanafelt TD, Kamal AH

JCO oncology practice.. 2020 April 16 (4):191-199. Epub 03/30/2020.

Tumor Mutation Burden and Depression in Lung Cancer: Association With Inflammation.

McFarland DC, Jutagir DR, Miller AH, Breitbart W, Nelson C, Rosenfeld B

Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network : JNCCN.. 2020 April 18 (4):434-442. Epub 1900 01 01.

Direct-to-Consumer Advertising for Cancer Centers and Institutes: Ethical Dilemmas and Practical Implications.

Hlubocky FJ, McFarland DF, Spears PA, Smith L, Patten B, Peppercorn J, Holcombe R

American Society of Clinical Oncology educational book. 2020 March 40 :1-11. Epub 1900 01 01.

Depression and Inflammation in Patients With Lung Cancer: A Comparative Analysis of Acute Phase Reactant Inflammatory Markers.

McFarland DC, Breitbart W, Miller AH, Nelson C

Psychosomatics.. 2020 61 (5):527-537. Epub 04/02/2020.

Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio in Lung Cancer: Implications for Depressive Symptoms and Survival.

McFarland DC

Clinical oncology and research.. 2020 3 (6)Epub 06/19/2020.

Personality Disorders in Patients with Cancer.

McFarland DC, Morita J, Alici Y

Oncology.. 2019 October 2833 (10)Epub 10/28/2019.

Update on Addressing Mental Health and Burnout in Physicians: What Is the Role for Psychiatry?

McFarland DC, Hlubocky F, Riba M

Current psychiatry reports.. 2019 October 1521 (11):108. Epub 10/15/2019.

The Oncologist as Therapist.

McFarland DC, Hlubocky FJ

Journal of oncology practice. 2019 October 15 (10):539-546. Epub 09/04/2019.

Depression and inflammation among epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutant nonsmall cell lung cancer patients.

McFarland DC, Jutagir DR, Rosenfeld B, Pirl W, Miller AH, Breitbart W, Nelson C

Psycho-oncology.. 2019 July 28 (7):1461-1469. Epub 05/15/2019.

Suicide in Patients With Cancer: Identifying the Risk Factors.

McFarland DC, Walsh L, Napolitano S, Morita J, Jaiswal R

Oncology.. 2019 June 1933 (6):221-6. Epub 1900 01 01.

Less direct patient care delivered by medical trainees by the end of a hematology-oncology ward rotation: Association with empathy and related factors.

McFarland DC

Psycho-oncology.. 2019 June 28 (6):1342-1348. Epub 04/24/2019.

C-reactive protein and its association with depression in patients receiving treatment for metastatic lung cancer.

McFarland DC, Shaffer K, Breitbart W, Rosenfeld B, Miller AH

Cancer.. 2019 March 1125 (5):779-787. Epub 12/06/2018.

Addressing Depression, Burnout, and Suicide in Oncology Physicians.

McFarland DC, Hlubocky F, Susaimanickam B, O'Hanlon R, Riba M

American Society of Clinical Oncology educational book. 2019 January 39 :590-598. Epub 05/17/2019.

New lung cancer treatments (immunotherapy and targeted therapies) and their associations with depression and other psychological side effects as compared to chemotherapy.

McFarland DC

General hospital psychiatry.. 2019 60 :148-155. Epub 04/18/2019.

Structured Analysis of Empathic Opportunities and Physician Responses during Lung Cancer Patient-Physician Consultations.

Johnson Shen M, Ostroff JS, Hamann HA, Haque N, Banerjee SC, McFarland DC, Molena D, Bylund CL

Journal of health communication.. 2019 24 (9):711-718. Epub 09/16/2019.

Prevalence of physical problems detected by the distress thermometer and problem list in patients with breast cancer.

McFarland DC, Shaffer KM, Tiersten A, Holland J

Psycho-oncology.. 2018 May 27 (5):1394-1403. Epub 02/01/2018.

A Tribute to Jimmie C. Holland, MD.

McFarland DC

Oncology.. 2018 February 1532 (2):56, 68. Epub 1900 01 01.

Associations of Physical and Psychologic Symptom Burden in Patients With Philadelphia Chromosome-Negative Myeloproliferative Neoplasms.

McFarland DC, Shaffer KM, Polizzi H, Mascarenhas J, Kremyanskaya M, Holland J, Hoffman R

Psychosomatics.. 2018 59 (5):472-480. Epub 01/31/2018.

Physical Symptom Burden and Its Association With Distress, Anxiety, and Depression in Breast Cancer.

McFarland DC, Shaffer KM, Tiersten A, Holland J

Psychosomatics.. 2018 59 (5):464-471. Epub 01/31/2018.

Prevalence of Physical Problems Detected by the Distress Thermometer and Problem List in Patients With Myeloproliferative Disorders.

McFarland DC, Shaffer KM, Polizzi H, Mascarenhas J, Kremyanskaya M, Holland J, Hoffman R

Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network : JNCCN.. 2017 December 15 (12):1503-1508. Epub 1900 01 01.

Resilience of internal medicine house staff and its association with distress and empathy in an oncology setting.

McFarland DC, Roth A

Psycho-oncology.. 2017 October 26 (10):1519-1525. Epub 05/24/2016.

Predictors of Satisfaction With Doctor and Nurse Communication: A National Study.

McFarland DC, Johnson Shen M, Holcombe RF

Health communication.. 2017 October 32 (10):1217-1224. Epub 09/09/2016.

Is empathy associated with a self-ascribed sense of meaning among resident physicians working with patients nearing the end of life on a hematology-oncology ward?

Komisar J, McFarland DC

Psycho-oncology.. 2017 September 26 (9):1403-1406. Epub 10/24/2016.

Acute empathy decline among resident physician trainees on a hematology-oncology ward: an exploratory analysis of house staff empathy, distress, and patient death exposure.

McFarland DC, Malone AK, Roth A

Psycho-oncology.. 2017 May 26 (5):698-703. Epub 01/18/2016.

New challenges to psycho-oncology research: Precision medicine oncology and targeted therapies.

McFarland DC, Blackler L, Holland J

Psycho-oncology.. 2017 February 26 (2):144-146. Epub 1900 01 01.

Preferences of Patients With Myeloproliferative Neoplasms for Accepting Anxiety or Depression Treatment.

McFarland DC, Shen MJ, Polizzi H, Mascarenhas J, Kremyanskaya M, Holland J, Hoffman R

Psychosomatics.. 2017 58 (1):56-63. Epub 08/17/2016.

Psychological Manifestations of Early Childhood Adversity in the Context of Chronic Hematologic Malignancy.

McFarland DC, Shen MJ, Polizzi H, Mascarenhas J, Kremyanskaya M, Holland J, Hoffman R

Psychosomatics.. 2017 58 (1):46-55. Epub 10/05/2016.

Does Hospital Size Affect Patient Satisfaction?

McFarland DC, Shen MJ, Parker P, Meyerson S, Holcombe RF

Quality management in health care.. 2017 26 (4):205-209. Epub 1900 01 01.

Communicating About Precision Oncology.

McFarland DC, Blackler E, Banerjee S, Holland J

JCO precision oncology.. 2017 1 Epub 08/07/2017.

Psychological Symptoms Among Patients With BCR-ABL-Negative Myeloproliferative Neoplasms.

McFarland DC, Polizzi H, Mascarenhas J, Kremyanskaya M, Holland J, Hoffman R

Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network : JNCCN.. 2016 December 14 (12):1563-1570. Epub 1900 01 01.

The management of psychological issues in oncology.

McFarland DC, Holland JC

Clinical advances in hematology & oncology : H&O.. 2016 December 14 (12):999-1009. Epub 1900 01 01.

Psychiatric evaluations prior to stem cell transplant - a survey of National Marrow Donor Programs.

McFarland D, Gorman E, Kim S, Rothwell A, Saunders P, Tindle S, de la Vega-Diaz I, Steinberg A

Psycho-oncology.. 2016 July 25 (7):877-9. Epub 09/10/2015.

Predictors of patient satisfaction with inpatient hospital pain management across the United States: A national study.

McFarland DC, Shen MJ, Holcombe RF

Journal of hospital medicine.. 2016 July 11 (7):498-501. Epub 03/11/2016.

Managing Depression in Patients With Cancer.

McFarland D, Lahijani S, Holland J

Oncology.. 2016 July 30 (7):665-71. Epub 1900 01 01.

ReCAP: Would Women With Breast Cancer Prefer to Receive an Antidepressant for Anxiety or Depression From Their Oncologist?

McFarland DC, Johnson Shen M, Harris K, Mandeli J, Tiersten A, Holland J, McFarland DC, Johnson Shen M, Harris K, Mandeli J, Tiersten A, Holland J

Journal of oncology practice. 2016 February 12 (2):172-4; e197-206. Epub 01/19/2016.

Early Childhood Adversity and its Associations With Anxiety, Depression, and Distress in Women With Breast Cancer.

McFarland DC, Andreotti C, Harris K, Mandeli J, Tiersten A, Holland J

Psychosomatics.. 2016 57 (2):174-84. Epub 11/30/2015.

Changes in Pathological Complete Response Rates after Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Breast Carcinoma over Five Years.

McFarland DC, Naikan J, Rozenblit M, Mandeli J, Bleiweiss I, Tiersten A

Journal of oncology.. 2016 2016 :4324863. Epub 06/13/2016.

Neoadjuvant Therapy in Differentiated Thyroid Cancer.

Dang RP, McFarland D, Le VH, Camille N, Miles BA, Teng MS, Genden EM, Misiukiewicz KJ

International journal of surgical oncology.. 2016 2016 :3743420. Epub 09/22/2016.

Four Difficult Thyroid Cancer Cases: Incorporating Medical Therapies.

McFarland DC, Dang RP, Miles BA, Misiukiewicz K

Seminars in oncology.. 2015 December 42 (6):e83-98. Epub 09/21/2015.

Psychological Distress of Internal Medicine Residents Rotating on a Hematology and Oncology Ward: An Exploratory Study of Patient Deaths, Personal Stress, and Attributed Meaning.

McFarland DC, Maki RG, Holland J

Medical science educator.. 2015 December 25 (4):413-420. Epub 07/25/2015.

Demographic factors and hospital size predict patient satisfaction variance--implications for hospital value-based purchasing.

McFarland DC, Ornstein KA, Holcombe RF

Journal of hospital medicine.. 2015 August 10 (8):503-9. Epub 05/04/2015.

Inpatient Hematology-Oncology Rotation Is Associated With a Decreased Interest in Pursuing an Oncology Career Among Internal Medicine Residents.

McFarland DC, Holland J, Holcombe RF

Journal of oncology practice. 2015 July 11 (4):289-95. Epub 06/09/2015.

Putting the "Person" in Personalized Cancer Medicine: A Systematic Review of Psychological Aspects of Targeted Therapy.

McFarland DC, Hamilton JG, Fox R, Holland J

Personalized medicine in oncology.. 2014 December 3 (8):438-447. Epub 1900 01 01.

Sorafenib in radioactive iodine-refractory well-differentiated metastatic thyroid cancer.

McFarland DC, Misiukiewicz KJ

OncoTargets and therapy.. 2014 7 :1291-9. Epub 07/15/2014.

Signaling pathways in lymphoma: pathogenesis and therapeutic targets.

Arita A, McFarland DC, Myklebust JH, Parekh S, Petersen B, Gabrilove J, Brody JD

Future oncology.. 2013 October 9 (10):1549-71. Epub 1900 01 01.

Prolonged neutropenia after neoadjuvant radiation therapy and chemotherapy using oxaliplatin and capecitabine for rectal cancer.

McFarland DC, Leslie WT

Gastrointestinal cancer research : GCR.. 2011 January 4 (1):33-5. Epub 1900 01 01.

"Sleep attacks" in a patient with Parkinson's disease and subsequent psychiatric decompensation: a case report.

McFarland DC

The primary care companion for CNS disorders.. 2011 13 (5)Epub 1900 01 01.

Books

Kaplan & Sadock's Comprehensive Textbook of Psychiatry, 11th Edition (2023)

Chapter: Psycho-Oncology

The Complex Role of Trust in Oncology (2023)

Burnout, Depression, and Suicide in Physicians: Insights from Oncology and Other Medical Professions (2022)

Handbook of Psychiatry in Palliative Medicine, 3rd edition: Psychosocial Care of the Terminally Ill (2022)

Chapter: Care for the Healthcare Provider

Psycho-Oncology in Palliative and End of Life Care (2022)

Chapter: Anxiety Disorders

Depression, Burnout and Suicide in Physicians Insights from Oncology and Other Medical Professions (2022)

Chapter: Medical Professionalism and Physician Dignity: Are We at Risk of Losing It?

Depression, Burnout and Suicide in Physicians Insights from Oncology and Other Medical Professions (2022)

Chapter: Cultivating Resilience and Preventing Burnout: A Mindful Multipronged Intervention Approach