Camil Craciunescu, B.S. 2018

Medical Student at UNC School of Medicine – Chapel Hill, NC

2018 Major: Biology; minors in French, Global Health and Chemistry

How has being a Biology graduate from Duke helped shape you personally and/or professionally?

"My biology classes at Duke and the relationships I formed with classmates and professors deeply influenced my passion for learning and nudged me down the path of pursuing medicine as a career. It also helped me realize how much I enjoy teaching and interacting with students, something I hope to integrate into my career one day."

What advice would you give students in Duke's Biology programs? 

"It is difficult to look past "getting good grades" at this point in your education and I was very much the same way. It is something that we have been conditioned to strive for. I would encourage you to pay less attention to your grades, as they will not impact your future career choices/opportunities as heavily as you think they will. Take it from me, my GPA was not great and I had some incredibly difficult academic experiences in undergrad that came as a result of me pursuing grades too ferociously. I encourage you to take care of yourself, spend time with friends, travel, form relationships, join clubs and sports, and do things you truly enjoy. These moments allow for reflection that a dogged determination towards schoolwork does not completely satisfy."

Camil Craciunescu