2017 the Academy of Diagnostics & Laboratory Medicine Professor Alvin Dubin Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Profession and the Academy
2005 Outstanding Contributions Through Service to the Profession of Clinical Chemistry
2001 The Distinguished Scientist Award
Dr. Valdes is professor of pathology and laboratory medicine and professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at the University of Louisville School of Medicine. He is also chief of clinical chemistry and toxicology and director of the clinical chemistry postdoctoral fellowship program. Dr. Valdes is internationally recognized as a leader in advancing the profession of clinical chemistry and personalized medicine through research, service, and teaching. He has served in major roles in several key professional organizations, including as president of the the Academy (NACB), the Clinical Ligand Assay Society, and the Commission for Accreditation in Clinical Chemistry. He has also been on the board of directors of the the Association for Diagnostics & Laboratory Medicine (formerly AACC) and the American Board of Clinical Chemistry. Dr. Valdes has served on numerous federal and national committees such as National Institutes of Health study sections. He has served
on many editorial boards, including those of Clinical Chemistry, Clinica Chimica Acta, Journal of Clinical Immunoassay, Clinical Biochemistry, Annals of Clinical and Laboratory Sciences, and Therapeutic Drug Monitoring. He holds several patents and is a pioneer in the application of personalized and precision medicine via laboratory diagnostics. He founded the first CLIA-accredited laboratory focused on providing pharmacogenetic services and two other companies involved in the development of novel approaches to the practice of laboratory medicine. He continues working to implement personalized precision medicine using advanced techniques in clinical chemistry. He has received several distinguished scientist awards from professional organizations and authored more than 260 publications.