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DDI Spotlight: 5 minutes with Valentina Vitiello

30 November 2023

Health

Our DDI Spotlights gives us the opportunity to get to know our Academic Leads for Development, Diversity and Inclusion from across the Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine. Dr Valentina Vitiello is the Academic Lead for Development, Diversity and Inclusion in the School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences, below Valentina shares an introduction to her work, background and a quick fire of some of her favourites.

What is your background and career up to this point?

I am a Medical Engineer with a PhD in Medical Robotics and hands-on research experience in developing medical devices for surgical interventions, from prototyping to clinical evaluation. After a few years of post-doc, I decided to move into research programme management and eventually operations management. I recently joined the London Institute for Healthcare Engineering as the Head of Clinical Translation and Governance, and my role is to ensure MedTech entrepreneurs have the right support to move their innovation from bench to bedside as fast and as safely as possible.

What do you think people in the School would find most surprising about you?

I won a number of regional and national competitions in figure skating during my teen years!

What advice would you give to your 18-year-old self?

Don’t let others define your worth. Surround yourself of people that support you, ignore those who don’t, and be true to yourself. You’re doing great!

What do you do with your time outside academia/work?

I spend time with my family, eat good food, read, watch Netflix and travel.

What are you most looking forward to working on as a DDI Lead this year?

I lead on activities tackling bullying and harassment within the School, and I look forward to seeing our work making a real impact. Watch this space!

What is something positive that happened to you in 2022?

I became an aunty! My sister lives in Scotland and in July 2022 I jumped on a train as soon as she went into labour to be the first to meet her newborn son, Sirio. He is 16 months now, super chatty and all round adorable!

What is your favourite thing about working at King’s?

My colleagues. I have met some truly remarkable people that are always supportive and inspirational and make my job even more enjoyable and meaningful.