Spotlight on Excellence: Katrina Grace Castro's 10-Year Journey at Cordlife Philippines

As Cordlife Philippines commemorates its 15th anniversary, we are privileged to highlight the remarkable journey of one of our esteemed team members, Katrina Grace Castro. With a decade of unwavering dedication and expertise, Katrina has played a pivotal role in Cordlife Philippines’ commitment to revolutionize healthcare and empower families across the country. Join us as we delve into Katrina's inspiring story and gain insights into her invaluable contributions to Cordlife Philippines.

Q&A Spotlight

1. Can you share briefly your 10-year journey at Cordlife Philippines? What is your day-to-day like?

Katrina: My job is to oversee the operations in the Cordlife Philippines laboratory and to ensure our compliance to local and international standards. I also assist our senior manager in budget planning.

I joined Cordlife Philippines in 2013, starting my journey as a laboratory biotechnologist. My team is responsible for processing cord blood and tissue samples. We ensure that our laboratory and all equipment, especially our cryostorage tanks, are always in the best condition.

2. As the assistant manager of the Laboratory department, what are common misconceptions about your job?

Katrina: That our work is repetitive and somewhat routinary. But in reality, we work on various projects beyond processing of stem cells that are intellectually stimulating.

Among these projects are the enhancement of our cryostorage capabilities, the ongoing augmentation of Cordlife Philippines’ clinical laboratory, and our steady preparation and planning for our regular audits.

3. What do you love most about what you do for Cordlife Philippines?

Katrina: I believe in our mission of providing reliable healthcare solutions through innovation, technological advancement, and commitment to quality and in the value of what we do. We help our clients in securing the health of their families through our umbilical cord stem cell banking and healthcare services.

4. What valuable insights or lessons would you like to pass on to your younger peers from the Lab Team?

Katrina: To always have a positive attitude. No matter how hard our job is, if you have the right attitude and mindset, the work will become easier. And to always think of the importance of what we do. Our clients entrust us with their precious cord blood, cord tissue, and cord lining stem cell samples, we must handle them carefully and treat them as if they are our own.

5. As Cordlife Philippines continues to expand its horizons, what exciting developments or opportunities are you eagerly anticipating in the future?

Katrina: We are incredibly excited about the upcoming developments in our laboratory department at Cordlife Philippines! I mentioned earlier that one of our main projects on the horizon is expanding our cryostorage capabilities. This involves not only purchasing new cryotanks but also meticulously validating them to ensure they meet the highest standards of quality and reliability.

Additionally, we're implementing a proactive approach to the preventive maintenance of our cryotanks, ensuring optimal performance.

But that's not all – we're also exploring other sources of stem cells to broaden our potential avenues for healthcare innovation. With our sights set on the future, we're eager to implement more cutting-edge technology and research to enhance our services and impact even more lives positively.

Furthermore, the ongoing development and improvement of our clinical laboratory, which has been launched this 2024, marks a significant milestone in our journey. This expansion strengthens our ability to provide comprehensive diagnostic services, offering our clients even greater convenience and peace of mind.

Amidst all these, we remain committed to maintaining the highest of standards in our offerings. We continuously gear up for the regular ISO:9001 certification and AABB accreditation, further solidifying our reputation for adherence to the highest standards of quality and safety.

These projects in the pipeline represent our unwavering dedication to pushing the boundaries of healthcare innovation and ensuring the well-being of Filipino families for years to come.

Katrina Grace Castro exemplifies the dedication, expertise, and passion that define Cordlife Philippines' commitment to excellence. As we celebrate 15 years of innovation and impact, we extend our deepest gratitude to Katrina and all our team members for their unwavering dedication.

Together, we continue to shape the future of healthcare and empower families nationwide.