Not long ago, healthcare mostly followed tradition. But today, things are changing. With the help of technology, data, and fresh ideas, Romania’s healthcare system is finding smarter ways to solve problems, take better care of patients, and run more smoothly. Doing her part for this change is Catrinel Răduți—a thoughtful, driven leader who brings a strong mix of experience and passion to everything she does.
Catrinel’s career has been all about learning and growing. She started her career in the pharmaceutical world, then spent years building her digital and marketing skills in tech. Now, as Associate Director of Digital, Data and Operations at MSD Romania, she’s right in the middle of healthcare’s digital transformation and healthcare data systems. Her path—from creating smart marketing strategies to leading big tech projects—has helped her shape real change in the way healthcare works in Romania.
Her impact goes beyond improving how teams work. She’s helping patients get better access to care, medicine, and clear information. Catrinel leads with a focus on teamwork, learning, and giving people the support they need to grow. She’s a big believer in using data and digital tools not just to work faster, but to truly improve patient care.
Outside her main role, she is also working to create a more equal workplace. As a lead of the Women’s Network at MSD Romania, she helps support and inspire women in healthcare and tech—creating space for learning, connection, and confidence.
Let’s dive into Catrinel’s path of growth, resilience, and innovation in Romania’s digital healthcare revolution!
A Journey from Marketing to Digital Transformation
Catrinel’s career journey began with a deep-rooted interest in the pharmaceutical industry. “My career journey began in the pharmaceutical industry with Pfizer Romania, where I developed strategic marketing plans for various products. This foundational experience ignited my passion for marketing and led me to IBM, where I spent over a decade honing my skills in digital marketing and team leadership,” she explains.
At Pfizer Romania, Catrinel learned the power of marketing in healthcare. She observed firsthand how impactful marketing strategies could improve patient access to life-saving medications and vital health information. This experience ignited her passion for both healthcare and marketing and set the stage for her next step: moving to IBM.
At IBM, Catrinel spent more than ten years refining her skills in digital marketing, data operations, and team management. It was here that she gained invaluable experience in a high-tech B2B environment and deepened her understanding of the role technology and data could play in driving business success. By the time she made her transition to MSD Romania, Catrinel had acquired a comprehensive skill set that uniquely positioned her to lead the company’s digital and operational transformation.
Today, in her role, she leverages her extensive experience in both marketing and technology to ensure that the company stays ahead of the curve in adopting digital tools, enhancing operational efficiency, and driving data-driven decision-making.
Coaching and Mentoring
Catrinel discovered her passion for coaching early in her career, particularly during her time at IBM. She realized that helping others develop their skills and confidence not only benefited them but also enhanced team performance and morale.
Since then, she has actively applied coaching principles in her professional life. In her current role, she engages in coaching discussions with her team members and peers, focusing on identifying their individual strengths and growth potential. “This approach fosters a culture of continuous learning and empowerment, allowing team members to take ownership of their development,” she says. “By integrating coaching into my leadership style, I have seen significant improvements in team collaboration, innovation, and overall performance,” she adds.
Empowering Women in Healthcare and Data Science
In addition to her core responsibilities, Catrinel also leads the Women’s Network at MSD Romania, a role she took on in April 2025, alongside two other colleagues.
The Women’s Network is an internationally recognized Employee Business Resource Group (EBRG) established in 1995, with over 70 chapters globally and more than 13,000 members. In Romania, the network has over 100 active members, and Catrinel is grateful to all those who contribute to making it such a vibrant and supportive community.
“Our purpose is to empower women to reach their full potential while balancing their professional and private lives in an environment that promotes networking and inclusiveness. We aspire to be an engaged and influential community that champions and inspires women to be their authentic selves, fostering a sense of belonging and helping them realize their professional aspirations,” she explains.
Personally, Catrinel is passionate about increasing the representation of women in data science and healthcare. “I believe that increasing female representation in these fields is crucial for driving innovation and ensuring diverse perspectives in decision-making. Through the Women’s Network, I hope to create opportunities for mentorship, skill development, and networking that will empower women to thrive in these areas,” she says.
The Intersection of Healthcare and Technology
Catrinel’s interest in healthcare goes far beyond the business side of things; it’s deeply personal. She views healthcare not only as an industry but as a means to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. Her passion for improving healthcare delivery is something that has only grown over the years. “My attraction to the healthcare field stems from a deep-seated desire to make a meaningful impact on people’s lives. Early in my career at Pfizer Romania, I witnessed how effective marketing strategies could enhance patient access to vital medications and information. This experience ignited my passion for healthcare, as I realized the profound difference that well-executed marketing can make in improving patient outcomes,” she shares.
As technology began to evolve, so did her understanding of its potential to revolutionize healthcare delivery. Catrinel became increasingly fascinated by the power of digital tools and data analytics in transforming patient engagement and healthcare operations. The introduction of telemedicine, digital health platforms, and the rise of data analytics offered new opportunities to deliver personalized care and streamline healthcare delivery.
Today, she is particularly focused on the intersection of healthcare and technology, where she sees enormous potential for improving patient outcomes and operational efficiency. “Today, I am excited about the intersection of healthcare and technology, particularly how digital transformation can enhance operational efficiency and patient engagement,” she remarks. With her expertise in data-driven decision-making and operational efficiency, she is passionate about harnessing the power of digital innovation to create more efficient, patient-centered healthcare services in Romania.
A Day in the Life
Catrinel’s days are packed with a mix of strategic planning, data analysis, team management, and cross-functional collaboration. “I start by reviewing key performance metrics to assess our initiatives and ensure alignment with business goals. I invest a lot of time into coaching my team, fostering a culture of collaboration and accountability,” she explains.
Her role requires a deep understanding of both the technical and business aspects of the organization. Catrinel is committed to driving operational efficiency through data and digital transformation, and she does so by working closely with both her team and stakeholders to ensure that the organization’s goals are met. “I engage with stakeholders in-country and above-country across our organization, to drive our strategy forward, ensuring that we leverage data effectively to inform our decisions and optimize our operations,” she says.
A key focus is coaching her team, guiding them not only on technical skills but also on creating a culture of continuous learning and development. She believes in empowering her team to take ownership of their growth and providing them with the tools and support to succeed.
Data as a Catalyst for Change
For Catrinel, one of the most rewarding aspects of her work is the ability to leverage data to drive meaningful change in the healthcare sector. Data, in her view, is more than just a collection of numbers; it is a powerful tool for identifying gaps in healthcare delivery, understanding patient needs, and optimizing operational strategies. “One of the most rewarding aspects of my work is leveraging data to drive meaningful change. Data plays a crucial role in identifying gaps in healthcare delivery and understanding patient needs. By analyzing data trends, we can develop targeted strategies that enhance patient engagement and optimize our operations,” she reflects.
In Romania, she sees the potential for even more significant improvements through data-driven decision-making. The healthcare system is evolving, and there is tremendous room for growth in data integration and utilization. She is passionate about helping the country move toward a more unified, data-driven healthcare landscape. “In Romania, the potential for unifying data systems and having a data-driven decision-making approach is immense. I am passionate about harnessing data analytics to inform our marketing strategies and operational processes, ultimately leading to improved patient outcomes,” she shares.
Leading with a Vision
Leadership is something that Catrinel takes very seriously, and she follows a set of core principles that have guided her throughout her career. These principles include empowerment, accountability, and continuous learning, all of which shape the way she leads her team. “I adhere to principles of positive leadership, focusing on empowerment, accountability, and continuous learning. I believe in fostering a growth mindset within my team, encouraging them to embrace challenges and learn from failures,” she explains.
Catrinel is also a strong advocate for open, two-way feedback. She believes that feedback is essential for growth and development, and she encourages her team to provide honest insights on how they can improve. This feedback loop helps ensure that the team stays on track and continues to evolve and innovate.
Overcoming Obstacles
One of the most challenging projects she worked on at MSD Romania involved building a robust data analytics and insights engine to support business decisions. This project was not without its obstacles, the first being a scarcity of relevant data. Accessing comprehensive and accurate data in the healthcare sector, especially in Romania, is no easy task. To overcome this, her team partnered with various internal and external stakeholders, including healthcare providers and data aggregators, to enhance their data sources and ensure they had a more holistic view of the market.
Ensuring data accuracy was another critical challenge. “To address this, we established rigorous data validation processes and quality checks to maintain the integrity of our data,” she explains.
Finally, ensuring that data was regularly updated posed its own challenges. Therefore, the team developed an automated data collection system with regular review cycles to ensure reliable and up-to-date data. These efforts led to the creation of a dynamic analytics engine that now supports informed decision-making at MSD Romania.
Navigating Innovation and Compliance
Innovation in healthcare, particularly when it comes to digital transformation and data analytics, must always be balanced with compliance, especially in a regulated industry. Catrinel emphasizes that building a solid compliance framework is essential to ensure that innovation is pursued responsibly. “Balancing innovation with compliance is crucial in healthcare. I prioritize building a strong compliance framework that guides our innovative efforts. This involves staying informed about regulatory changes and fostering a culture of compliance within our teams,” she says.
By integrating compliance into the early stages of project planning, she ensures that innovation is implemented in a way that aligns with regulatory requirements. This proactive approach allows her team to explore new solutions while minimizing the risk of non-compliance.
The Future of Healthcare and Digital Transformation
Looking ahead, Catrinel is excited about the potential of personalized medicine and the integration of AI and machine learning technologies in healthcare. She believes that these advancements will fundamentally transform how patient care is delivered and managed.
As a leader, she sees herself playing a key role in driving these innovations forward, ensuring that the company remains at the cutting edge of healthcare technology while keeping patient outcomes and operational efficiency at the forefront.
