Mary Lou Galantino, PT, MS, PhD, MSCE
Dr. Mary Lou Galantino is a Distinguished Professor of Physical Therapy at Stockton University, where she also coordinates an interdisciplinary Integrative Health Minor. She received her BS degree in physical therapy from the University of Pittsburgh in 1982 and engaged in extensive rehabilitation training with oncology and HIV populations in the 1980’s at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Dr. Galantino earned an MS degree in physical therapy at Texas Woman’s University and in 1991 she joined the faculty at Stockton University and earned her PhD from the Department of Education at Temple University in 1997. In 2005, she completed a Master of Science in Clinical Epidemiology from the University of Pennsylvania. Through her Fulbright Specialist Award, Dr. Galantino is committed to mitigating HIV and cancer disability through collaborative research and is a visiting professor at the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa. She has over 100 publications and has given over 250 professional presentations to interdisciplinary audiences.
Dr. Galantino has held several state and national consultative and advisory positions in the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). She was the appointed APTA representative for the American College of Surgeons - Commission on Cancer where she served as a member of the Advocacy and Accreditation Committees.
In 2017, she was inducted into the National Academies of Practice as a Distinguished Fellow. She has also received numerous university and APTA awards for her teaching and research. In 2018, she was awarded Catherine Worthingham Fellow, the highest award of the APTA. As a cancer survivor and co-survivor, Dr. Galantino understands the importance of timely quality healthcare and is committed to serving patients with compassion and creativity to spark healing at all levels.
Content Area Specialties
Area of focus includes teaching, research and advocacy, advancing the care and rehabilitation of those with chronic conditions including HIV/AIDS and cancer around the country and the globe with a holistic health approach. Focused research with emphasis on testing various integrative therapies (Tai Chi, Meditation, Yoga, Meditation) for patients with chronic conditions undergoing rehabilitation interventions. She completed yoga training (1999) and was certified as a health coach (2007). She published several impactful manuscripts using these modalities to mitigate chronic pain and impairments from cancer/HIV treatments. Dr. Galantino is committed to graduate student healthcare mental health and well-being through her experiential teaching and clinical practice. Presently, she is a co-investigator in a NIH NCI 5- year funded research: Yoga for Chemotherapy-induced Peripheral Neuropathy to Reduce Fall Risk. Clinical trials at Memorial Sloan Kettering and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Fulbright Specialist work in South Africa: HIV/Cancer Disability Research and cancer rehabilitation education implementation for various provinces of South Africa (visited 6 times since 2014). Ongoing meetings with key policy stakeholders to promote the Cancer and Palliative Health Care implementation across the region.
She enjoys collaboration with the Professional Advisory Committee for Cancer Support Community nationally and locally treats cancer survivors and volunteers for the American Cancer Society.
Methods Specialties
Design and test various integrative therapies protocols for feasibility and effectiveness with focus on translational impact.