Skip to main content

Learn More About AUC's COVID-19 Response

AUC Med Logo

Mobile Main Nav

  • About AUC
    • About AUC
    • Residency Placements
    • Accreditations & Approvals
    • St. Maarten Campus
    • UK Track
    • Diversity & Inclusion
    • Facts & Figures
    • Events
    • News & Publications
    • Blog
    • Caribbean Center for Disaster Medicine
    • Leadership
    • Community Affairs
  • Admissions
    • Admissions
    • Admissions Requirements
    • How to Apply
    • Tuition & Financial Aid
    • Scholarships
    • MCAT Information
    • Canadian Student Applicants
    • Non-US Applicants
    • Transferring to AUC
    • Career Changers
    • Admissions Assessment
    • Request More Information
    • On-demand Webinars
    • Events
  • MD Program
    • MD Program
    • Medical Sciences Curriculum
    • Clinical Sciences
    • UK Track
    • Medical Education Readiness Program
    • Hospital Teaching Sites
    • Medical School Guides and Resources
    • USMLE Preparation
    • Meet Our Faculty & Staff
    • Student Forms
  • Student Life
    • Student Life
    • About St. Maarten
    • Virtual Tour
    • Safety & Security
    • Health & Wellness
    • Clubs and Organizations
    • Spouses Organization and Families
    • Housing
    • OFFICE OF CAREER ADVISEMENT
    • Class Profiles
    • Alumni Class Notes Form
  • Discover AUC
    • Discover AUC
    • Virtual Tour
    • Blog
    • Medical Specialties
    • News & Publications
    • Viewbook & Factsheets
    • Alumni News
    • Photo Gallery
  • Apply
    • Start Your Application
    • Submit Your AMCAS Application
    • Submit Your AACOMAS Application
    • Submit Your TMDSAS Application
    • Continue Your Application
  • Alumni
  • Faculty
  • Students
  • Parents
  • Careers

Secondary Mobile Menu

  • Request Info
  • Apply Now

Social Media Navigation

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin
  • Call
  • Request Info
  • Apply Now
  • Alumni
  • Faculty
  • Students
  • Parents
  • Careers

Social Media Navigation

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin

Utility Navigation

  • REQUEST INFO
AUC Med Logo
  • About AUC
    • ABOUT AUC

      Our medical school offers a collaborative learning environment that features a multitude of student organizations, small class sizes, international training opportunities, and a team-based learning culture.

      VIEWBOOK & FACTSHEETS

      • About AUC
      • Residency Placements
      • Accreditations & Approvals
      • St. Maarten Campus
      • UK Track
      • Diversity & Inclusion
      • Facts & Figures
      • Events
      • News & Publications
      • Blog
      • Caribbean Center for Disaster Medicine
      • Leadership
      • Community Affairs
  • Admissions
    • ADMISSIONS

      Our medical school admissions team is eager to assist you as you embark on your journey to become a physician. Our goal is to provide you with all of the information and guidance you need to explore AUC as a medical school option.

      Take the Admissions Assessment

      • Admissions
      • Admissions Requirements
      • How to Apply
      • Tuition & Financial Aid
      • Scholarships
      • MCAT Information
      • Canadian Student Applicants
      • Non-US Applicants
      • Transferring to AUC
      • Career Changers
      • Admissions Assessment
      • Request More Information
      • On-demand Webinars
      • Events
  • MD Program
    • MD PROGRAM

      A US-modeled curriculum designed to prepare you for practice in the US, Canada, and beyond.

      Learn More

      • MD Program
      • Medical Sciences Curriculum
      • Clinical Sciences
      • UK Track
      • Medical Education Readiness Program
      • Hospital Teaching Sites
      • Medical School Guides and Resources
      • USMLE Preparation
      • Meet Our Faculty & Staff
      • Student Forms
  • Student Life
    • STUDENT LIFE

      Learn what it's like to be a student at AUC, including living in St. Maarten, opportunities for community involvement, and clubs and organizations.

      TAKE THE VIRTUAL TOUR

      • Student Life
      • About St. Maarten
      • Virtual Tour
      • Safety & Security
      • Health & Wellness
      • Clubs and Organizations
      • Spouses Organization and Families
      • Housing
      • OFFICE OF CAREER ADVISEMENT
      • Class Profiles
      • Alumni Class Notes Form
  • Discover AUC
    • DISCOVER AUC

      From our alumni news, to informative blogs, and virtual tour, discover all that AUC offers.

      Learn More
      • Discover AUC
      • Virtual Tour
      • Blog
      • Medical Specialties
      • News & Publications
      • Viewbook & Factsheets
      • Alumni News
      • Photo Gallery
  • Apply
      • Start Your Application
      • Submit Your AMCAS Application
      • Submit Your AACOMAS Application
      • Submit Your TMDSAS Application
      • Continue Your Application
  • Apply Now
      • Start Your Application
      • Submit Your AMCAS Application
      • Submit Your AACOMAS Application
      • Submit your TMDSAS Application
      • Continue Your Application
Pattern Two
Friday, December 14, 2018
Faculty Spotlights
Professor, Molecular Cell Biology

Nathalie McDonell, MD, PhD
St. Maarten Campus
nmcdonell@aucmed.edu

Share

  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • email

Breadcrumb

  1. About Us
  2. News & Publications
  3. Faculty Friday Spotlight: Dr. Nathalie McDonell

Faculty Friday Spotlight: Dr. Nathalie McDonell

Dr. McDonell has studied in England and France, conducted research in Switzerland and Japan, and taught in Belize, among her many travels during her career. She earned her PhD in Genetics at the University of Paris and her medical degree from the Medical University of the Americas, and joined the AUC faculty in 2007. Dr. McDonell teaches Molecular and Cell Biology I and II and has chaired the department since 2015

Describe an experience that helped form you as an educator.

I chose a medical school with a program for PhDs to teach their subject in exchange for completing the MD curriculum. This was my first teaching experience and although it was only for financial reasons rather than the teaching experience, I really enjoyed the teaching more than I expected. There was one professor at the medical school who taught with such passion and made you excited about learning and understanding the material. This professor was a role model for me. After completing my clinical rotations, there was almost a year to wait before beginning my internship in the UK so I applied to the AUC faculty. I chose AUC and Sint Maarten for the weather, the two countries (I’m half French and my husband is Dutch so it seemed a good fit), and because AUC is a teaching university. We never left after the first year because I enjoyed it so much.

 

What is your favorite thing about teaching at AUC?

The enthusiasm and eagerness of the students, helping them get the knowledge they need to be the best doctors they can be, and working together with my colleagues who are great and all want the best for the students.

 

What are some of your favorite things about Sint Maarten?

The people, weather, beautiful beaches, the colorfulness, the diversity.

 

What is an underappreciated aspect of life in Sint Maarten?

Island life. The relaxed way, everything in its own time (can get frustrating when trying to get things done, but stepping back and appreciating how everything is ok anyway is also nice to be reminded of sometimes).

 

How would you like for students to describe you years from now?

An enthusiastic and helpful instructor!

 

What makes you look forward to the start of a new semester?

The excitement of the students to learn more and get closer to their dreams.

 

What’s something that not many people know about you or that your students would be surprised to learn about you?

I almost joined a dance company instead of going for a PhD and travelled around Southeast Asia for a year after my PhD.

 

What would you be doing if you hadn’t gone into medical education?

If I’d not continued at AUC, I might have returned to the UK to train as an oncologist or moved to Italy.

 

Related Blogs

Blog
woman smiling
Faculty Spotlight: Ms. Jen Blakelidge
As we celebrate Women’s History Month, we’re pleased to spotlight female leaders at American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine. We caught up with Ms. Jen Blakelidge, Assistant Professor/Senior Lecturer in Clinical Skills for AUC’s UK Track MD Program, to learn more about her teaching position and interests outside of the classroom.
Blog
 Cecil W. Cone
Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Cecil W. Cone II
AS WE CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH, WE'RE SPOTLIGHTING AUC FACULTY AND LEARNING MORE ABOUT THEIR PATHWAYS TO MEDICINE. IN THIS PERSONAL REFLECTION, DR. CECIL W. CONE II, PROFESSOR OF PATHOLOGY AND THIRD SEMESTER LEAD, SHARES HIS JOURNEY TO BECOME A PHYSICIAN AND HOW HE DISCOVERED HIS PASSION FOR PATHOLOGY.
Blog
Natalie Humphrey
Faculty Spotlight: Natalie Humphrey, PhD, CEAP
AS WE CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH, WE'RE SPOTLIGHTING AUC FACULTY AND LEARNING MORE ABOUT THEIR PATHWAYS TO MEDICINE. IN THIS PERSONAL REFLECTION, DR. NATALIE HUMPHREY, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF PSYCHOLOGY, SHARES HER JOURNEY TO BECOME A CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST, THE CHALLENGES SHE’S SURMOUNTED ALONG THE WAY, AND HER DRIVE TO INSPIRE OTHERS.
Top
AUC Med Logo

Footer Social Media Navigation

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin
  • Careers
  • Student Email
  • Colleague Email
  • Contact
  • Sitemap

ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE

1600 SW 80TH TERRACE, 
PLANTATION, FL 33024
PHONE: 305-446-0600

TOLL-FREE: 866-DR2B-AUC
(866-372-2282)
FAX: 305-444-6791

ST. MAARTEN CAMPUS

1 UNIVERSITY DRIVE AT JORDAN ROAD, CUPECOY, ST. MAARTEN

PHONE: +1 721-545-2298

FAX: +1 721-545-2440

PRESTON, UK PROGRAM SITE

VERNON BUILDING ROOM 64, SIZER STREET PRESTON, LANCHASHIRE PR1 1JQ

PHONE: +1 721-545-2298

FAX: +305-444-2440

American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Commission on Colleges of Medicine (ACCM, www.accredmed.org), which is the accreditor used by the country of St. Maarten.

 

© 2022 American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine. All rights reserved.   
Privacy Policy | Student Consumer Information | Online Cookie Policy | Accessibility | Catalog and Student Handbook

 

  • Call
  • Chat
  • Request Info
  • Apply Now
  • Alumni
  • Faculty
  • Students
  • Parents
  • Careers
  • "Chat Now"