Christine A. Ciunci

Christine A. Ciunci, MD, MSCE is a Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine in the Department of Hematology-Oncology at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine. She serves as Vice Chief of Clinical Affairs and Quality for the Division of Hematology-Oncology and Co-Director of the Cancer Diagnostics Clinic at the Abramson Cancer Center. Dr. Ciunci maintains active hospital privileges at both the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, where she treats adult patients with lung cancer and other malignancies.

Her educational foundation includes:

• Medical Degree: Temple University School of Medicine
• Residency: Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
• Fellowship: Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
• Additional Credential: Master of Science in Clinical Epidemiology (MSCE)

Dr. Ciunci's research program centers on advancing lung cancer therapeutics through three interconnected pillars: immunotherapy optimization (managing long-term immune-related adverse events and sequencing strategies), molecularly-targeted approaches for EGFR-mutant and KRAS-mutant NSCLC, and healthcare delivery innovation via the Cancer Diagnostics Clinic. Her work bridges clinical trials and real-world implementation, with recent studies published in high-impact journals including JTO Clinical Research Reports and JAMA Network Open. The Cancer Diagnostics Clinic model she co-leads has become a national benchmark for rapid cancer evaluation.

Analysis of her 10 most recent publications (2023-2025) reveals a consistent focus on translational lung cancer research with emphasis on immunotherapy durability, resistance mechanisms in molecular subsets, and operational solutions for diagnostic delays. Over 80% of her work involves multi-institutional collaborations within Penn Medicine's Abramson Cancer Center network, demonstrating strong integration with institutional research infrastructure.

As Vice Chief of Clinical Affairs, Dr. Ciunci drives quality improvement initiatives across the hematology-oncology division while maintaining an active clinical practice. Her patient-centered approach is reflected in exceptional patient satisfaction scores (4.9/5 from 334+ reviews), with comments highlighting her expertise in complex lung cancer cases and compassionate communication. She secures research funding through NIH grants and industry-sponsored clinical trials supporting her therapeutic innovation work.

Dr. Ciunci's leadership extends to the Cancer Diagnostics Clinic, which she co-developed to eliminate diagnostic delays through coordinated same-day evaluations. This initiative represents her commitment to transforming cancer care delivery while advancing her research on diagnostic pathways and early intervention outcomes.