Teri Moore, IR Research Lab Manager, Spotlight
Teri Moore is obsessed with her dog Reggie, a rescue pup who loves road trips, hiking, camping, and beach days as much as she does – and she wants you to know about it!
At UCSF, Moore manages the Interventional Radiology Research Lab at China Basin, where she sits at the forefront of research and innovative projects that are transforming patients’ lives. She wears many hats and manages basic and translation research operations, grants and NIH-funded projects, collaboration with renown body and neuro radiologists and neuroendovascular surgeons, and a team of clinical research coordinators, engineers, and medical students.
It would come as no surprise if Moore defined herself by this work. But for Moore, that’s not the case.
“Work is part of my life, but I don’t want to be defined by that. I want to be known for my character and who I am as a person,” said Moore. “And that makes you better at your job.”
It’s a belief she learned in her early 30’s, a takeaway from the four years she worked in Germany. For 20 years, she was employed by Siemens, prior to being recruited to UCSF by Steven Hetts, MD, Co-Chief of Neuroendovascular Surgery and Mark Wilson, MD, Chief of Radiology at ZSFG, both of whom also co-direct the Interventional Radiology Research Lab.
“You can be good at your job, and it can be important, but it does not need to become your whole life,” she said. And she hopes to instill this in the young, 20-something professionals she mentors – one of the aspects of her job she enjoys most.
“Figure out what you want out of your life, and do something you want to do,” she advises the medical students employed at the lab, many of whom are women exploring the early stages of a career in science. “I really enjoy helping people move along their path – whether it is earning a PhD, working in industry, or going to medical school.”
From Industry to Academia
“It’s nice having the patient and the physician be the end goal,” said Moore, reflecting on her transition from industry to academia eight years ago. “How can we help the patient? How can we be more efficient in our therapies? How can we make the procedure safer for the patient and the doctor. For the later part of my career, it is nice being on this side.”
Moore has worked in radiology since the start of her career. She earned a bachelor’s degree in radiological sciences and worked as a radiological technologist specializing in angiography, CT, and MR for five years. Then she joined Siemens Healthcare (renamed Siemens Healthineers in 2016), where she held various roles, including product specialist, marketing, and research and development. Now, Moore uses her industry knowledge to navigate the lab’s relationships with industry partners. She’s been on their side, and she knows what they’re talking about.
“The opportunity to rub elbows with amazing, smart, accomplished innovators in this field is one of the aspects of my job that I enjoy the most,” said Moore. She was surprised how much she enjoys working in an office setting. After being a remote employee for most of her career, she now appreciates socializing with UCSF colleagues, mentoring lab team members, and simply stopping by someone’s office for an in-person meeting or chat when needed. Her hybrid work schedule offers “the best of both worlds.”
A Passion for Life
An “open book,” Moore gladly shared her accomplishments and what brings her joy.
She is most proud of running the Berlin marathon and receiving a medal after a 5-hour finish, under the 6-hour time limit. At 6’3” – the shortest one in her family – she acknowledges she’s not built to be a runner. In fact, she admits she hates running altogether. A remarkable reflection of her character and the quality of a truly amazing friendship, Moore ran the marathon only after being secretly signed up by a friend. She supported that friend by completing training runs with her over the course of a year in preparation for the marathon. On their last 21-mile training run, her friend broke the news that she too was signed up to run. Although she confessed she was not happy at first, her thoughts quickly turned cheerful as she declared, “I did it!”
Another passion of Moore’s is travel. Having traveled all over the world, these days she’s traded in the airport for the open road. She drives throughout California road tripping with Reggie, her perfect little companion.
Living on the Peninsula, she also enjoys time at home, a night in with close friends, or unwinding with a good book. “I was hooked from page 1,” said Moore, an avid book reader, about Winter Night, a historical fiction fantasy trilogy she recently finished. Reggie, reading, and road trips recharge her batteries for another day at the IR Research Lab.
“I love what I do. I love my job and working in Radiology,” said Moore, whose life experience has taught her to value being “well-rounded” and to cherish her life outside of the office as much as her work.