Member of the Week: Dr. Vanessa Galli
Practice: I work at Intermountain West Valley clinic with several other University of Utah Family Medicine alumni and have been there now for five years. I have a strong Interest in women’s healthcare/procedures and mental healthcare and am able to have these be a strong focus on my practice. I couldn’t imagine a better place to work. I also regularly work with trainees including nurse practitioner students, medical students and family medicine residents from the University Utah.
Residency: University of Utah
A bit about Dr. Galli: I grew up in southern New Hampshire in a small town without a single stoplight called Mont Vernon. My parents were in the Air Force. I have one half brother who is quite a bit older than me although we were still quite close. I had the advantage of growing up in a rural town although was very close to Boston so got the best of both worlds. I developed an interest initially in veterinary medicine and went to the University of Vermont as an animal science major and was recruited for division one track and field and cross country. I ended up having a change of heart while volunteering at the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington Vermont while in undergrad. I ran track and cross-country through college and also worked on a small student run dairy farm that shipped to Cabot a Vermont cheese company. I spent several years working as a veterinary technician at a small animal hospital. I ended up attending medical school at the University of Vermont and never looked back. I very early developed a strong interest in primary care partially because of my rural upbringing. I also loved the variety and the people I met in the field. This compelled me to apply to University of Utah Family Medicine Residency where my love for the outdoors and the mountains intersected with the best people you’ll meet in Family Medicine. I have developed a strong love of trail running and trail racing since moving to Utah and also am an avid snowboarder. I live with my husband who is a neurologist at the University of Utah practicing autoimmune neurology. We have a German Shepherd, two cats and the best son I could ever imagine named Jack who is almost 4 years old. I additionally very much enjoy gardening and have quite the productive garden every summer.
What keeps you passionate about family medicine? The constant variety of ages and chief complaints, the best coworkers I could imagine, and the opportunity to teach. I can’t say enough about how much I love the work I do but I think the thing I love the most is the long-term relationships I get to build with the families I take care of.
What do you wish you’d known when graduating from med school? It’s okay to follow your passion. Family Medicine was the best choice for me and I am so glad I made it!
Where will we find you on your day off? Most likely running on the trails or the road. Maybe getting a new tattoo or hosting friends for dinner and drinks in our backyard patio.
What are you…
reading right now: Evidence Poems by Mary Oliver
watching right now: Stranger Things
listening to right now: Jose Gonzales, Vance Joy