Professor Valentin started her career in higher education in 2016 as a faculty member with the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia before the merger with Saint Joseph’s University in 2022. She started her role as director of the medical laboratory science program in 2019. Professor Valentin is a graduate of the very MLS program she now directs, earning her bachelors of science degree from University of the Sciences in Philadelphia (MT ’99). She had been working as a certified practitioner of medical laboratory science since her graduation until her role in higher education. Professor Valentin has also earned a certificate in Molecular Laboratory Diagnostics from Michigan State University (2012) and a master’s of science degree in Biomedical Informatics, focusing in Bioinformatics, from Rutgers University (2019). She holds two certifications by the American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP): Medical Technologist (now recognized as Medical Laboratory Science) and Technologist in Molecular Biology. She is an active member of the American Society of Clinical Laboratory Science (ASCLS), the ASCLS-PA state society, and holds a membership and certificate of maintenance with ASCP.
During her career, Professor Valentin has worked in several different settings including Bethesda Memorial Hospital’s Pathology and Laboratory Medical Services in Boynton Beach, FL, the Pennsylvania Bureau of Laboratories in Exton, PA in the BioWatch program under the direction of the Department of Homeland Security, and at the Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center’s (CMC VAMC) Pathology and Laboratory Medical Services (P&LMS) in Philadelphia, PA. All of her experience has been in clinical microbiology and molecular diagnostics.
The last laboratory position Professor Valenting held was as a clinical microbiologist in the microbiology department for nine years and concurrently as lead technologist for three years in the molecular diagnostics department at the CMC VAMC P&LMS. During that time, she had been instrumental in the validation and verification of an HPV molecular assay that serves women veterans and the coordination of specimen preparation and result acquisition between physicians, the molecular laboratory technologists, and the external testing site specifically for Hepatitis C Virus genetic analysis to determine appropriate antiviral therapies.
According to the American Society of Clinical Laboratory Science, 70% of medical decisions are made with the information gained from clinical laboratory testing data. (ASCLS, 2024). Professor Valentin expresses this statistic and the immense importance of quality laboratory testing to prospective students, their families, and to anyone who will listen. As the director of the medical laboratory science program at Saint Joseph’s University, Professor Valentin is committed to a high level of teaching about the concepts, procedures, significance, and importance of medical laboratory science, a science that is integral to proper healthcare of us all.
Resources:
ASCLS. (2024, October 7). ASCLS Endorses Bill to Improve the Supply of Medical Laboratory Personnel in the U.S. - Labvocate. Labvocate. https://labvocate.org/ascls-endorses-bill-to-improve-the-supply-of-medical-laboratory-personnel-in-the-u-s/
