Q&A with Raluca Ciochina

Q: Tell us a little about yourself and your background.

I am originally from Romania in Eastern Europe and moved to Philadelphia in 2002 on a college tennis scholarship. Aside from a two-year period working in the pharmaceutical industry in the Netherlands, I have lived in the United States and proudly called it home ever since.

Q: What role do you play in the Moores Cancer Center community?

I joined Moores Cancer Center in February 2018 as the Executive Assistant to J. Silvio Gutkind, PhD, Associate Director of Basic Science at Moores Cancer Center. In this capacity, I deliver

Q: What does your day-to-day look like?

I provide research, administrative, and event support for both the Moores Cancer Center and the Department of Pharmacology, where Dr. Gutkind serves as Chair. In this role, I help ensure the smooth day-to-day operation of both organizations by coordinating activities, supporting strategic initiatives, and facilitating collaboration across teams. I am committed to keeping things running efficiently while making life easier for the outstanding scientists, physician-scientists, and trainees whose work advances cancer research and patient care at Moores Cancer Center.

Q: Why do you love being part of the Moores Cancer Center community?

I am truly blessed to work alongside exceptional scientists and physician-scientists whose discoveries make a tangible difference for patients, from bench to bedside. Being part of that journey gives my work a deeper sense of purpose, making it feel more like a mission than just a way to earn a living. I also work alongside an exceptional and highly collegial administrative team whose collaboration, professionalism, and dedication are integral to the Center's success. I have learned that who you work for and who you work with makes a world of difference.  

Q: What has been the highlight of your career at Moores Cancer Center?

Every time one of the graduate student researchers in the Gutkind Lab successfully defends their PhD thesis, I am reminded of the impact our work has in training the next generation of cancer researchers.