NW Valley Times

After Brian Durbin heard about a physician at a ministry conference who spent two years at an underserved hospital in Nepal, he knew what he wanted to do with his life.

"The pathway to your future is never a straight line," Durbin said. "One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned in my time at Grand Canyon University: to always be flexible in case of a bend in the road."

Durbin grew up surrounded by family members working in the medical field. His father practiced internal medicine, and his mother was a registered nurse. Many of his relatives also pursued health care careers.

"So no one in my family would have been surprised if I followed the same course," Durbin noted.

However, after high school, Durbin attended Word of Life Bible Institute, a ministry college in upstate New York. He initially aimed for a career in vocational ministry to share his faith and serve as a missionary overseas.

"In my second year, I attended a ministry conference and heard about a physician whose journey took him on a two-year, post-residency program at an underserved hospital in Nepal," Durbin recalled. "I listened to the individual’s stories, saw images of the hospital, and developed a singular goal: to one day be a part of it."

Following discussions with mentors, Durbin shifted his major from biblical studies to biology. However, Word of Life did not offer a biology program.

"That’s when the road started to bend and my journey at GCU began," he said.

In fall 2020, Durbin moved across the country to attend GCU as an honors pre-med student. COVID-19 protocols limited many tutoring services and community events. He struggled academically and socially but remained focused on his goal.

Eventually, he made friends within the Honors College who were also pursuing pre-med degrees. They informed him about an opportunity for honors students to travel on a medical mission trip to Puerto Peñasco, Mexico.

"This was the opportunity I was waiting for," Durbin stated.

In April 2021, their team traveled to Mexico and assisted local healthcare providers by conducting home visits and setting up free clinics in underserved neighborhoods.

"The experience was transformative," said Durbin. "By observing local medical providers...I developed a deep appreciation for cultural humility when interacting with individuals from different ethnic backgrounds."

This trip confirmed that pursuing medicine was the right path for him. In 2022, he led another team back to Mexico for another medical mission trip while continuing various opportunities related to medicine.

That same year, he became a Helios Scholar research intern at TGen (Translational Genomics Research Institute), which led to full-time employment as a research technician focusing on novel drugs for cancer patients.

"I began volunteering during my senior year at Phoenix’s Neighborhood Christian Clinic," added Durbin. The clinic serves uninsured patients; many are Spanish-speaking individuals.

"This year I applied and was accepted into Creighton University’s Doctor of Medicine program here in Phoenix."

Durbin concluded by emphasizing flexibility: "The path I took...was by no means straightforward...I needed to be flexible...to find my purpose – and always be prepared for that bend in the road."

Brian Durbin graduated from GCU in 2023 with an undergraduate degree in biology and currently works full-time at TGen while serving as an adjunct biology lab instructor at GCU.

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