Meet Dr. Susan, Madison Pediatrician

About Dr. Susan

Dr. Susan Hetzel Frangiskakis, MD, FAAP, DABOM, CLC Pediatrician and Obesity Medicine Specialist in Madison, WI

Dr. Susan Hetzel Frangiskakis is a board-certified pediatrician with more than 20 years of experience caring for newborns, children, and teens, including those with complex medical conditions, mental health concerns, and behavioral and developmental challenges. In 2025, she co-founded Evexeya Health with Dr. Mike Frangiskakis to offer direct pediatric care: unhurried visits, fast access to your child's own doctor, and transparent pricing. Her clinical interests include wellness and preventive care, medically complex children, and obesity medicine.

Training and Board Certification
Dr. Susan earned a B.S. with distinction in molecular biology from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and her M.D. from the University of Utah School of Medicine, where she was elected to Alpha Omega Alpha, the national medical honor society. She completed her pediatric residency at the University of Michigan and then served as chief resident.

She is board certified in pediatrics by the American Board of Pediatrics and in obesity medicine by the American Board of Obesity Medicine (DABOM). She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics (FAAP) and a Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC), and a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Obesity and the Obesity Medicine Association.

Academic Medicine and Complex Care
After her chief residency, Dr. Susan joined the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine as an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics. There she taught medical students and residents, worked as a pediatric hospitalist, and spent seven years as a member of the Diagnostic Referral Group, evaluating children referred for rare conditions, multisystem disease, and puzzling symptoms that had not yet been explained.

That experience shapes her Pediatric Complex Care Consultations today. Families who have felt unheard, rushed, or lost in a large health system get an extended visit with a physician who reviews the whole history and helps chart clear next steps.

Primary Care Pediatrics and Obesity Medicine
Since returning to Wisconsin in 2009, Dr. Susan has practiced primary care pediatrics, caring for children from birth through adolescence. Over those years she saw more and more children affected by obesity and its complications, including insulin resistance, fatty liver disease, sleep apnea, and high blood pressure, which led her to pursue board certification in obesity medicine. She is one of only a handful of general pediatricians in Wisconsin board certified in obesity medicine.

She treats obesity as a chronic disease: a thorough medical evaluation, body composition analysis rather than BMI alone, and a personalized plan that combines nutrition, physical activity, and, when appropriate, FDA-approved medications. Her focus is children and teens, and she also works with a limited number of generally healthy adults. Learn more about weight management.

Autism Evaluation
Dr. Susan has cared for children with autism throughout her career and has seen many families wait months for answers. To shorten that wait, she completed formal training in the ADOS-2 and ADI-R, widely regarded as gold-standard diagnostic instruments. Evaluations are typically scheduled within two weeks, with no referral or membership needed. Learn more about autism evaluation.
Newborns and Breastfeeding

As a Certified Lactation Counselor, Dr. Susan helps with latch, milk supply, pumping, and feeding plans, with a month of follow-up support by phone or secure message after each visit. Her 4th Trimester Package brings newborn well-baby checks to your home for the first three months, so you don't have to take a brand-new baby into a clinic during cold and flu season.

Her Approach to Care
As a mother and a pediatrician, Dr. Susan knows the frustrations of traditional pediatric care: trouble getting your child in, seeing an unfamiliar provider instead of your own pediatrician, and after-hours questions answered by someone who doesn't know your child. She keeps a smaller practice so visits can run about an hour and your child sees her every time.

She follows guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics, including the AAP recommended immunization schedule, and values close, lasting relationships with both children and their families.

Access and Availability
Dr. Susan aims to see new patients within one week, and often within 1–2 days of enrollment. Members get same-day sick visits, including telehealth, and after-hours messaging through the patient portal. Clinic hours are typically 9 am–5 pm, Monday through Friday, with earlier, later, or Saturday appointments available on request. Autism evaluations, complex care consultations, lactation visits, and weight management do not require a membership.

Working With Your Child's Other Doctors
Dr. Susan communicates directly with your child's specialists and has access to Epic electronic medical records including UW Health and SSM Health, so your history, test results, and hospital or emergency visits are available to him without delay. If your child is admitted to a hospital, she stays in touch with the inpatient team and reviews the records afterward.

Evexeya Health does not provide emergency care. If your child is having a medical emergency, call 911.

Outside of Medicine
Dr. Susan reads everything she can get her hands on, plays piano, and works the New York Times crossword. She also plays ball with Darwin, her German Shepherd, sends funny Instagram reels to her daughter and son (which make their eyes roll), and plans the next travel adventure with Dr. Mike. With their children grown, she and Dr. Mike returned in 2025 to Madison, where they first met, to start Evexeya Health together.