Dr Valentine graduated from medical school in 2004 from the University of Adelaide. Having completed his undergraduate degree he then went on to begin his surgical training at the Royal Adelaide Hospital in 2007. During his training he undertook his PhD at the University of Adelaide in carotid artery injury with which he received the 2012 University Doctoral Research Medal. In 2011 he undertook a skull base/head and neck anatomy fellowship at the University of Florida. In 2016 he undertook a fellowship in Head and Neck Reconstructive surgery in Auckland.

Rowan has a keen research interest and has authored five book chapters and more than 20 peer-reviewed journal articles. He is a regular invited reviewer for three international journals.