Christophe Bonnel: a 49-year-old student and winner of the Laval Virtual Awards

“I’m never bored for a second—we only have one life, so we have to make the most of it!”

[ Could you introduce yourself in a few words? ] – I’m 49 years old and I’m always amazed by technological advances. As soon as I can use them for original purposes or in ways that aren’t yet known or recognized—whether for leisure or work—I jump right in. I love challenges, questioning the status quo, and adventure.
I’m an entrepreneur at heart. I’m never bored for a second—we only have one life, so we have to make the most of it!!!

“I was president of the medical student association.”

[ What are your passions? What do you do in your free time? ] – I love traveling with my family and friends, and the self-guided road trips I help organize in Europe. I take the opportunity to film and take photos, not to mention my love for modern music. I’m a fan of sound and light shows. I have a long history of involvement in student organizations. I served as president of the “Corpo Médecine (ACM)” and was an active member of the General Association of Montpellier Students (AGEM) in the 1990s.

“I just earned a certification as a trainer in simulator-based medical education.”

[ What about your education? ] – A Doctor of Medicine degree, followed by a specialty certificate in emergency medicine. I also earned a DEUST in “Multimedia and Development”10 years ago. I regularly participate in continuing education: I just earned a certificate as a “Instructor in Simulator-Based Medical Education.”

“To provide surgeons with a rich virtual reality experience where they can immerse themselves in the surgical procedure”

[ Tell us about the Revinax project, for which you won an award at the Laval Virtual Awards ] – Revinax aims to provide surgeons with an immersive virtual reality experience where they can step into a recorded surgical procedure as if they were performing the surgery themselves. All they have to do is attach a virtual reality headset to their phone, and they’re all set. They can watch and rewatch a technique that an expert has agreed to demonstrate before practicing it themselves in real life—first in a simulator and then, once they’re ready, on actual patients.
It was as part of my AES training (Master’s 2 internship) that I joined the Revinax team to support them on this project. I already knew them because the neurosurgeon who founded Revinax was completing a university degree in medical education at the medical school at the same time I was, and I had found their first clients, who helped accelerate the growth of this promising startup. I tried to bring to the table the experience I’d gained over 14 years as medical director of a medical imaging software company that I co-founded with computer scientists from Montpellier in 2002.

“I have a 9-year-old son, so I always make time for my family.”

[ What’s a typical day like for you? ] – No two days are alike because I have several different professional activities during the week. I have a 9-year-old son, so I always make time for my family. As for the rest—friends, work, and hobbies—the secret is having a good schedule, but it’s actually pretty easy. Depending on my schedule, my scooter is always enough to get me to the right place at the right time.

“A huge thank you to the students in my class who, even though they’re 25 years younger than me, welcomed me into their group from day one.”

[ What’s your favorite place on campus? ] – Since I’m part of the heritage outreach team at the School of Medicine, I couldn’t possibly choose between the venerable School of Medicine and the modernity of our AES Richter campus. A huge thank you to the students in my class who, even though they’re 25 years younger than me, welcomed me into their group from day one. I got to play some foosball and enjoy a meal at the campus cafeteria with them.
Call for participants: If you’d also like to take part in our series featuring students from the University of Montpellier, write to us.