Flora Berrefas, MD
Flora Berrefas, MD is a Harvard-trained Drug Safety Physician and clinical research leader specializing in ophthalmology, with advanced expertise in gene therapy and posterior segment clinical trials. With more than a decade of experience across hospital systems, community care, and specialized research environments, she has contributed to the oversight, and execution of numerous clinical trials focused on improving patient outcomes through rigorous evidence generation.
Dr. Berrefas brings a rare international perspective shaped by medical training and professional experience across Algeria, France, and the United States. This global foundation informs her approach to clinical development, where scientific rigor, patient safety, and regulatory integrity intersect. Her work emphasizes high-quality study oversight, multidisciplinary collaboration, and the translation of complex clinical data into meaningful advances in patient care.
A graduate of Harvard Medical School’s Global Clinical Scholars Research Training program, Dr. Berrefas has developed advanced expertise in epidemiology, biostatistics, clinical trial methodology, and evidence-based medicine. Her training strengthened her ability to evaluate benefit–risk profiles, guide protocol compliance, and support regulatory-aligned decision-making throughout the clinical development lifecycle.
Throughout her career, she has held roles spanning clinical site management, research coordination, medical device and drug safety review, and clinical operations oversight. Fluent in Arabic, Berber, and French, Dr. Berrefas contributes a culturally informed and globally attuned perspective to international research initiatives.
Beyond clinical research, she remains actively engaged in education and community organizations, including the Alliance Française of Washington, D.C., where she serves as a session organizer, examiner, and instructor. Her professional mission reflects a deep commitment to scientific excellence, patient advocacy, and advancing inclusive, ethical clinical research worldwide.
• Université Mouloud Mammeri Tizi-Ouzou - Doctor's Degree, Medicine
• Université Sorbonne Paris Nord
• Harvard Medical School Postgraduate Medical Education
• Alliance Francaise of Washington DC
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to discipline, consistency, and a long-term mindset. Progress in medicine and research is rarely linear; it requires sustained effort, intellectual humility, and the ability to remain focused even when results are not immediate. By maintaining structure, prioritizing quality over speed, and committing fully to each responsibility, I’ve been able to grow steadily while navigating complex scientific and clinical environments.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice I’ve received is to never stop learning and to treat education as a lifelong responsibility rather than a phase. Medicine, science, and regulation evolve constantly. Remaining curious, open to new perspectives, and willing to refine one’s thinking is essential not only for professional relevance, but for ethical responsibility toward patients.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice is simple: do not wait for permission to belong.
There is space for you and if you don’t immediately see a seat at the table, build one. Believe in your competence, invest in your education, and allow your work ethic to speak for you. Leadership is not defined by visibility alone, but by preparation, integrity, and consistency. Obstacles will exist, but they should never determine the limits of your ambition.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the greatest opportunities in clinical research today is the rapid expansion of innovation, from gene therapies to advanced biologics, which allows us to address diseases once considered untreatable. This progress also brings responsibility: ensuring that innovation is accompanied by strong safety oversight, sound methodology, and inclusive research practices.
The challenge lies in balancing scientific complexity with operational demands. As trials grow more sophisticated, maintaining quality, protecting patients, and supporting investigators requires strong leadership, collaboration, and resilience.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Integrity is central to everything I do.
In clinical research, integrity safeguards patients. In leadership, it builds trust. And in personal life, it provides direction when decisions are difficult. Acting ethically, remaining accountable, and aligning actions with values are essential especially in environments where scientific decisions can have global impact.
Locations
Amnay Drug Safety Solutions
Washington, DC 200008