Flavie Derville, Master of Biomedical Science
Hometown, State
Lille, France
What inspired you to pursue this degree?
When deciding career paths in high school, I knew science and health care were my fields of interest, but I didn’t have sufficient understanding of these to make the commitment to medicine that France requires straight out of high school. I pursued my undergraduate degree at King’s College London, where I had both research and clinical experiences that solidified my desire to become a doctor and integrate research into my clinical practice. I realized that I wanted to return to the U.S., where I had lived for several years, so I decided to pursue the MBS program as a way to gain experience in the U.S. health system, strengthen my clinical skills, and start my journey to medical school.
Why did you choose Duke?
I chose the Duke MBS program over others because it incorporates strong academics with a clinical emphasis and opportunities to pursue personal interests in a wide range of electives. The unique components I was specifically drawn to were the opportunity to become an EMT and the Human Structure course which includes human cadaver dissection. Being in the Triangle is also a huge plus, with the beach and mountains close by and many activities to do!
Do you have a favorite memory from your program?
I have so many good memories from this year, it has truly flown by. I think one of my highlights of the year was Scholar’s Day. Each student works on a research project of their choice during the spring semester and produces a poster and manuscript. We then had the opportunity to present our posters to faculty and other students in a conference-like environment. The lab I joined as part of my clinical research elective was super supportive and were even able to surprise me and attend Scholar’s Day! An honorable mention also goes to camping for and attending the Duke-UNC rivalry men’s basketball game. Go Duke!
How do you hope to make an impact with your career?
Growing up internationally opened my eyes to many cultures and different health care systems. These experiences inspired me, and I hope to bring my cultural understanding to the clinic to meet my patients where they are and be the best advocate for them that I can be. Additionally, I hope to continue pursuing clinical research alongside my practice to advance medicine.
What was the most important thing you learned at Duke?
My experience at Duke taught me to have confidence in myself and to have the courage to put my best foot forward. This was particularly emphasized to me during my clinical opportunities, where I quickly understood that taking initiative and having the confidence to get involved in new experiences in the clinic would translate into extremely rewarding learning opportunities!