Like Mother, Like Daughter: A Shared Mission in Cancer Care

Healthcare runs deep in the Cochran family.

Melissa Cochran has worked at Moffitt Cancer Center for 34 years and currently serves as the Radiology Services research manager.

It didn’t surprise Melissa that her daughter, Kelsey Cochran, would follow in her footsteps. All the years she spent in the on-site daycare and after-school programs at Moffitt, along with time spent volunteering through Moffitt’s teen volunteer program, helped shape her path.

By high school, Kelsey realized she wanted to be like her mom. Now, she works as an oncology nurse on the West Coast.

Melissa and Kelsey Cochran not only share a love for working in health care, but also traveling. 

“I’m incredibly proud of her. No matter what path she chose, I would feel that way but I was especially happy with her decision,” Melissa said. “Her empathetic nature and ability to make people smile make her perfectly suited for a career in nursing.”

More Than a Workplace

Melissa says it wasn’t a tough decision to stay at Moffitt for as long as she has.

Moffitt’s daycare and after-school program became especially important when her husband was deployed overseas to Bosnia and Herzegovina as part of the U.S. Army Reserve.

When she adopted her son from China, she knew he would be loved and cared for by the team members around her at Moffitt. It was a reflection of the support her family had already received through the years.

Up to this day, she says she feels incredibly fortunate to continue working with her team at Moffitt, supporting physicians, investigators, nurses and technologists in advancing research efforts.

A Childhood at Moffitt

From fond memories as a high school volunteer to participating in Moffitt’s Arts in Medicine Program while in college, Kelsey says she understood health care isn’t just about medicine but showing empathy and supporting families emotionally. These are traits she carries every day into her work.

Melissa made this collage for a leadership class depicting her and her family's connection to Moffitt. 

“The families have a lot of anxiety and worry and I just do my best to be there and support them,” Kelsey said.

Career Rooted in Care

Today, Melissa says her son’s girlfriend also works as a nurse at Moffitt. Plus, their family dog, Erwin, an Australian shepherd, also serves as a therapy dog at Moffitt.

The Cochran's Austrailian shepherd, Erwin, is a therapy dog at Moffitt. 

As she looks back at her time at Moffitt, she’s grateful to still be here and seeing her daughter continue that mission in oncology care has made her time even more worthwhile.

“You're never just a number at Moffitt,” Melissa said. “I see the dedication of all of our Moffitt team members to provide quality, compassionate patient care. That's what makes me so proud to be at Moffitt all these years.