Valentina Engelmann
Valentina Engelmann is an Executive Director of Market Access and Value-Based Partnerships at GoPath Diagnostics in Chicago, Illinois, where she provides strategic and operational leadership across molecular diagnostics, laboratory services, and genetic testing programs. With a degree and certification in medical technology, she has built a distinguished career at the intersection of clinical laboratory science, reimbursement strategy, and payer engagement. Her work is focused on expanding patient access to high-quality genetic testing through improved coverage, streamlined authorization pathways, and strong provider and payer alignment.
In her current role, Valentina leads multiple high-impact teams, including credentialing and payer enrollment, as well as the genetics hub responsible for prior authorizations and genetic counseling coordination. She works closely with the revenue cycle management organization to evaluate denials, improve billing integrity, and develop data-driven strategies that strengthen reimbursement outcomes and payer policy alignment. In parallel, she partners daily with laboratory scientists, research teams, and marketing leadership to support the development, validation, and successful commercialization of new genetic and molecular diagnostic test panels.
Her leadership also extends into value-based partnerships, where she collaborates with academic medical centers, hospital systems, and university-based programs to implement and scale genetic services that improve access, clinical efficiency, and provider usability. Over the past 12 years, Valentina has played a central role in building and expanding GoPath’s genetics program from its early development into a fully established, high-performing service line. She has been instrumental in shaping its “white glove” service model, ensuring providers receive end-to-end support in navigating complex authorization requirements and payer processes. Her ability to connect clinical science with operational execution and reimbursement strategy has made her a key driver in advancing both innovation and sustainability within the organization.
Outside of her professional accomplishments, Valentina has been married for almost 13 years and is a devoted mother to three children—a 10-year-old daughter, an 8-year-old son, and a 4-year-old daughter. Family is at the center of her life, and she and her husband are actively involved in their church community, where they regularly volunteer together. She also contributes through music by singing in the church choir. In her personal time, she enjoys cooking and baking, which she describes as her primary way of expressing care and connection with others. As a family, they value time spent outdoors, especially biking, exploring, and taking road trips, as well as traveling together to experience new places and create lasting memories.
• Medical Laboratory Technology Certification through ASCP 2012
• Elgin Community College - Associate Degree in Applied Science - Clinical Laboratory Technology, with honors, 2012
• Phi Theta Kappa
• ASCP
• Church choir member
• Awana ministry meal coordinator and secretary
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute success to perseverance, staying positive through difficult seasons, and being surrounded by the right people — especially the incredible women on my team who helped build this with me.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I have received is: do not always wait for permission to lead. When you are trusted with an opportunity, take ownership, use your judgment, and move forward with confidence. You can always adjust along the way, but do not hold yourself back by waiting for someone to tell you every step. Leadership often starts when you are willing to step into uncertainty and just go for it.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
If science and problem-solving excite you, clinical laboratory medicine is an amazing place to build a career. My advice to women is to stay curious, be confident, do not sell yourself short, and do not be afraid to grow beyond the role you started in.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge is that innovation in genetic and molecular testing is moving faster than the systems built to support it — guidelines, payer policies, authorization processes, and reimbursement. That creates barriers for patients, providers, and labs. But I also see that as the biggest opportunity. There is a real need for people who can translate the science, understand the payer landscape, support providers, and build pathways that help patients actually access the testing that may impact their care.
That is really where my work sits — bridging the gap between clinical innovation and real-world access.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
In my personal life, the most important value to me is my faith. Having God in my life is everything. I would not be where I am today, and I would not have the blessings I have, if it were not for God. I truly believe I have not done this in my own strength, but through His strength. So for me, gratitude is huge. I try to give it all back to God and thank Him for the opportunities, the lessons, and the people He has placed in my life. I also try to carry that into my work. I want to be a positive light. I want people to feel better after they interact with me. One of my goals has always been to leave people better than I found them. If I can encourage someone, support them, help them grow, or make them feel seen and valued, then I feel like I have done something good. That is important to me both personally and professionally.