Growing up in South Lebanon, Bobby Gallo could not understand life without sports. But even he could not imagine what path his life would take.
In retrospect, it all makes sense now. Not only is he still involved in the sport, but he also has the opportunity to give back, making a difference in his community and helping local student-athletes get the most out of their academic experience. .
That’s Dr. Robert Gallo, now professor of orthopedic and sports medicine at the Pennsylvania State Medical College in Hershey. In 1994 Cedar graduated from Crest High School and lives in Palmyra, Gallo, North Lebanon, Lebanon, Anvil He is part of the College, Harrisburg’s sports medicine team. He was once called “Team He’s a Doctor”. Senator.
In short, he lives his dream, or a reality version of it.
“Sport was my whole life when I was a kid,” Gallo said. “I learned how to read and do calculations on the back of baseball cards. I couldn’t imagine my life without some kind of sport.
“I honestly had a hard time in college[choosing to be a sportswriter or a doctor],” he continued. I think it’s more like, in each one you’re constantly learning and meeting people, but in medicine I feel like you have a more personal opinion of people’s well-being. “
Clearly, Gallo made the right decision.
As a professor of orthopedic sports medicine, Gallo’s responsibilities have four main components: education, clinical, surgery, and community service. But what intrigues Gallo professionally is the people.
“I think it’s about relationships,” he said when asked about his favorite aspect of his job. I see people wanting to help others, I use it occasionally for refreshment, but I enjoy all three elements of my job.
“It’s not that I’m not compensated,” he added. “But it’s so cool to be able to help people. That’s important to me. I’m very happy to go to a school that doesn’t have as many resources as other schools. All are important to me.”
Gallo has earned a reputation as one of the most knowledgeable experts in the field in the treatment and research of anterior cruciate ligament injuries, one of the most common injuries in all of educational sports. In his 14-year career, he has performed more than 700 of his ACL surgeries, many of which have been on Lebanese County student-athletes.
“It’s very nice to be able to restore someone’s ability to play, especially after a torn ACL,” Gallo said. “Then it’s so rewarding to go to a game and see kids with torn ACLs compete again. When they go off to college, I tell them, ‘Tell me what’s new.’ . I think it’s pretty cool to see their progress in the next level. Some use it as inspiration to continue doing something in the healthcare field.
“I get my enjoyment out of going out and helping the bystanders[at the local athletic meet]. People see you, people get to know you. , have a sense of kinship.”
After graduating from Pennsylvania State University School of Medicine in 2002, Gallo completed an orthopedic residency at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh and a sports medicine and shoulder fellowship at New York City’s Special Surgery Hospital. Gallo, a former tennis player during his time at Cedar Crest, will become the Director of the Orthopedic Residency Program at the Pennsylvania State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.
“I think part of the idea of going into medicine is to help people, but also because I want to learn,” says Gallo, 46. I see a lot of good things and bad things. You see trauma all the time, you see people’s lives change instantly and forever. It definitely keeps you away from risk takers.
“My mother was an administrator at Lebanon Valley General Hospital (later the Hyman S. Kaplan Pavilion),” he continued. “I was constantly exposed to drugs. Those were big years for me. I was always surrounded by it and my grades were good, so you are being pushed in that direction.
There is a saying in sports that hard working people bring good luck. Gallo, still young, is very good at his game and very good at his profession. There are many goals left for him to achieve.
“As I get older, I start thinking about the legacy I left behind and how people will remember me,” Gallo said. “I have been incredibly lucky to be surrounded by wonderful people who have taken the time to support me. I have wonderful parents.; I went to a great school and was incredibly lucky. And I have great partners and colleagues. Finding an academic sports medicine job is not easy. Hershey is indebted to you. ”
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