Inspired to the field of medicine after seeing her father struggle with his health, Gloria E. Valentin was also fascinated by research as a way to give back and contribute to society. She embarked on her studies with coursework in nursing at both Bronx Community College and Regent University and attained certification as an administrative and clinical medical assistant. Her career began in 1983, when she became the outpatient cardiovascular research manager and senior clinical research coordinator at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, which was then affiliated with Yeshiva University. In 1989, she was certified as a clinical research associate (CRA) by Hofstra University and joined Health and Science Research, Inc., where she exceled as a research administrator CRA level three and a business development and research coordinator until 1995.
Cementing herself as an expert in clinical research for pharmaceutical companies, Ms. Valentin became certified in project management through the Association of Clinical Research Professionals in 1995. That same year, she achieved her first position with Novartis AG as a contract CRA and established her own company, GEV Research Services Inc., where she was the owner and chief executive officer. Leaving Novartis in 2000, she ran GEV Research Services until 2004 while working for F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd and its subsidiary, Genentech, Inc., as a study start up specialist, a certified CRA level three and the strategic oncology site engagement program ambassador from 2000 to 2015. During this time, Ms. Valentin obtained a Bachelor of Science in health administration with a concentration in hospital management from the University of Phoenix in 2011.
After briefly serving as a CRA for Merck and PRA Health Sciences from 2015 to 2016, Ms. Valentin returned to Novartis in 2016. Today, she serves as an expert certified CRA and lead CRA, roles in which she works directly with project managers, oversees clinical research sites, trains CRAs and provides support to multiple levels within the monitoring division. She currently oversees at least 20 different clinical sites. Ms. Valentin has been continually inspired and motivated throughout her career by her love of research and the fact that her work allows her to directly impact the safety and wellbeing of participants in clinical trials through keeping scientists and physicians on track with the requirements of the Food and Drug Administration.
Ms. Valentin has always done her utmost to keep striving onward and upward in her career. Looking toward the future, she would love to be able to serve Novartis in a greater capacity, but she is equally happy in her current position, helping to ensure that the best drugs reach the market. She notes that her drive and passion have led to her work in pharmaceutical research becoming more than just a career, it has become her life. A regular presenter in her field, she maintains professional affiliation with the Association of Clinical Research Professionals, the American Association of Medical Assistants and the Drug Information Association. In her community, Ms. Valentin has been further involved in helping others through the American Red Cross and various charitable organizations to feed the homeless.
For excellence in her career, Ms. Valentin received several honors during her tenure at F. Hoffman-La Roche Ltd and Genentech, including a customer satisfaction recognition and the Director’s Excellence Award in 2007. Above these accolades, she notes that her favorite parts of her career have been the opportunities she has had to learn new things, because of how every clinical trial is different; getting to see innovative new research; and getting to learn from and collaborate with the investigators she works with. Furthermore, Ms. Valentin considers her greatest professional accomplishment to be the time she became the lead for an oncology trial. The company she was working for downsized during the middle of said trial and she was appointed to take over the whole project, overseeing 34 sites across the country and reporting directly to the FDA.
Living her life by the motto, “Do not be afraid to take a challenge on, regardless of what it might be. Just keep yourself in a positive mode,” Ms. Valentin attributes much of her success to the support of her husband, who stood by her side even when her job had her traveling all over the United States. She loves her family dearly and considers the absolute highlight of her career to be raising her family while running her own business for nine years. Today, her family includes three sons, nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. While she has no immediate plans for retirement, Ms. Valentin has acknowledged that it is somewhere on the horizon and looks forward to the fact that her future retirement will allow her to spend more time with her family.