Peggy Valentine, EdD, Vice President of Allied Health Education, has been named a 2024 Women of Influence by the Nashville Business Journal (NBJ).
Valentine is recognized as a 2024 Trailblazer among 40 community and business leaders. Winners are nominated by the public and selected by a panel of NBJ judges.
Valentine joined VUMC in 2021 to design, pilot and expand training pathways to create a new allied health workforce in the greater Nashville area.
“I am extremely proud of Dr. Valentine and what she and her team are accomplishing in our allied health education programs, said Donald Brady, MD, Executive Vice President for Educational Affairs for Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) and Executive Vice Dean for Academic Affairs for Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. “When she came to VUMC just over two years ago, we envisioned a leader who would help us develop innovative external partnerships, build vital workforce education programs, and strengthen the relationship between human resources and allied health education, and she is fulfilling that vision.”
Valentine recently published an op-ed in The Tennessean about the successful collaborations between VUMC and Nashville State Community College, Tennessee State University and Fortis Institute, among others. The partnerships are boosting the allied health workforce across the Vanderbilt Health territory while helping people navigate the path into higher education.
“The enthusiasm from around the region coupled with our results so far underscore the importance of the Center for Programs in Allied Health. I am incredibly proud of the work that we have accomplished — and there’s more to do. I’m so glad I came to VUMC,” said Valentine.
Prior to VUMC, Valentine served for about 15 years as dean of Winston-Salem State University School of Health Sciences. She was also interim chancellor at Fayetteville State University from August 2019 to March 2021. Valentine is the former associate dean in the College of Pharmacy, Nursing and Allied Health Sciences, Division of Allied Health Sciences, at Howard University, a position she held from 1998 to 2005.
Valentine received her Doctor of Education degree from Virginia Tech and Master of Arts degree and Bachelor of Science degree from Howard University. She began her career as a physician’s assistant (PA) following a stint as a registered nurse.
The Women of Influence winners will be featured in a special print edition of NBJ, and the group will be honored during a luncheon in April.