Meet Dr. Gallagher
At Chestnut Hill Dental, we like to get to know our patients, so here’s what you should know about me! I grew up in the Chestnut Hill section of Northwest Philadelphia, about three miles from our current office, and I feel fortunate that I still live in the neighborhood where I was born and raised. My parents, siblings, and grandparents all lived within a mile of where I live today. My wife, Karen, also grew up in the area. In fact, my grandfather worked with my wife’s grandfather as a gardener for years. I attended grade school at Our Mother of Consolation, and I’m still a member of that parish. I went to LaSalle College High School and LaSalle College and was a competitive swimmer and water polo player. Later, I played in Chestnut Hill basketball and softball leagues.
Today, I belong to the Tunkannah Fishing Association and I’m president of the Avalon Fishing Club. Karen and I travel, play golf, and take long walks in Valley Green. We raise bees and extract honey. And we enjoy spending time with our family: three grown children and 11 grandchildren, and a goldendoodle named 2:30.
Dreams of Becoming a Dentist
As far as work is concerned, I don’t think of my job as work. I’ve always been passionate about dentistry. I find teaching patients how to maintain their systemic oral health and to achieve and keep a great smile to be very rewarding. I was lucky to grow up with good hands and good judgment, and a dad who was a dentist. His life had a big influence on mine. In my early 20s, working in the ceramics manufacturing industry, I started having dreams about helping people while I was wearing a white lab coat.
I decided to leave a great job with Combustion Engineering to become a dentist. I went back to school, graduated from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, and was accredited by the Pennsylvania Board of Dentistry. I had achieved my dream of practicing dentistry.
I never stopped learning. I began studying at the Pankey Institute of Dentistry in 1982 and have remained a Triple Plus Member, sharing the institute’s holistic approach and commitment to providing the highest level of comprehensive patient care. In 2004, I completed Pankey’s Head and Neck Dissection and Pankey’s Sleep Disorder and Breathing programs. And in 2006, I completed Pankey’s Ethical and Comprehensive Dental Care Program. I also became a Fellow of the American Endodontic Society in 2000 and a Master in 2002. I still participate in many dental study clubs and seminars and attend annual American Dental Association (ADA) conferences.
A Community of Caring
Today, the Chestnut Hill Dental team reflects my journey and my vision of dental care. We believe in preventing dental problems through education, nutrition, and regular checkups. We have fun doing our job each day. We treat our patients like family, and we have seen many of them for their whole lives. We know where our young patients are headed to college; we know the names of our patients’ family members, and we know and ask about events in our patients’ lives.
My practice is philanthropic as well. We contribute to many community organizations and service projects around the world, including donating hundreds of toothbrushes to different non-profits in the US and abroad. We maintain important relationships with many oral and medical specialists in the area, ensuring that our patients receive the utmost in overall comprehensive care. Our goal is to make sure that each and every patient leaves our office comfortable, well cared for, and smiling!
