Valerie L. Dutreuil received a Rotary Club Scholarship in 2013. She graduated Florida Atlantic University in 2017 with a B.S. She is currently pursuing her masters in Epidemiology and Biostatistics at Boston University School of Public Health.
She is also a research assistant at Boston University where she is working on a grant for Dr. Harlow to determine whether women with immune system disorders or acute conditions that affect immune system will be more at risk in experiencing chronic vulvar pain. She is responsible in identifying and catalog all ICD codes that are stress-related immune conditions.
In addition to her internship, she is working with a clinical immunologist, who works at Boston Medical Center, a psychiatrist, who also works at BMC and with the VA and colleagues at the Swedish National Board of Health. She says that her journey and experiences would not have been possible without her receiving a Rotary Club scholarship.
She related gaining insight and guidance from her mentor Pia Giannone. She said that Pia gave her confidence when she felt in doubt, and she reminded her how far she has come. She now refers to Pia as her second mother because of how important she is to her.
She is getting ready for classes and enjoying the remaining days of summer.
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