University of Pittsburgh alumna Mary Lou Galantino (BS ’82), PT, PhD, FAPTA, returned to her alma mater as the honored speaker for the 29th Annual Scully Lecture, a prestigious event hosted by the Department of Physical Therapy. Her lecture, “Labor, Love and the Luck of Legacy,” wove together themes of mentorship, global service, clinical innovation and the lifelong impact of a Pitt education.
The Scully Lectureship was established in honor of former Department of Physical Therapy Chair Rosemary Scully, a trailblazing educator known for her deep commitment to advancing physical therapy education and inspiring leadership among students and colleagues alike. A remarkable figure in her own right, she was the youngest player—just 14 years old—to try out for the Women’s Professional Baseball League, later immortalized in the film “A League of Their Own.”
“Dr. Scully was all things sports, all things mentorship and all things possibility,” Galantino shared during her talk. “She fostered the growth of future leaders through her passion for clinical education and her belief in building teams that strengthened education and practice. Because of Dr. Scully, and the foundation she provided during my time at Pitt, I am the person I am today.”
A Career Launched by Curiosity—and Chicken Buses
A 1982 graduate of Pitt’s Physical Therapy program, Galantino is now a full-time distinguished professor at Stockton University in New Jersey. Her remarkable career began with a spirit of inquiry and service during her undergraduate years at Pitt.
In 1979, as a sophomore, she received her first Nationality Room scholarship, which allowed her to study abroad in Chiapas, Mexico. “I traveled on a chicken bus to reach rural communities,” she recalled with a smile, highlighting how the experience was more than cultural—it was transformational. The trip opened her eyes to global health disparities and set the tone for a lifetime dedicated to service learning and international collaboration.
A second Nationality Room scholarship during her junior year allowed her to travel to Stockholm and Jönköping, Sweden, where she studied post-stroke rehabilitation and innovative approaches like auto-traction for back pain. “Pitt changed my worldview through these global experiences,” she emphasized.
Scholarship, Service and Innovation
Since her graduation, Galantino has authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications, four books, numerous book chapters and has delivered more than 250 presentations across local, national and international stages. A fellow of the American Physical Therapy Association and a distinguished fellow of the National Academies of Practice, her contributions to clinical science, integrative health and global health outreach have earned her widespread recognition.
At Stockton University, where she has taught since 1991, Galantino has led dozens of service-learning trips to underserved communities in Haiti, China, Colombia and South Africa. Many of these efforts were supported by prestigious Fulbright Specialist awards. In addition, she founded the Galantino Global Grant, a travel scholarship that allows Stockton health sciences students to engage in international clinical exchanges and cultural immersion.
Leading with Compassion: HIV, Cancer and Chronic Illness
An early leader in rehabilitation for people living with HIV/AIDS, Galantino conducted groundbreaking research in the late 1990s on exercise, pain and neuropathy. She helped shape interdisciplinary rehabilitation models for HIV care and was among the first to investigate the potential of acupuncture, Tai Chi and electroacupuncture for symptom management.
Her work in oncology rehabilitation has also garnered national acclaim. In 2024, she received the Susan J. Mellette Award for Excellence in Leadership in Cancer Rehabilitation, honoring her research on yoga, massage, telerehabilitation and exercise interventions aimed at improving the quality of life for cancer survivors.
A Champion of Integrative Health
Throughout her career, Galantino has advocated for a whole-person, integrative approach to care, blending evidence-based biomedical interventions with complementary therapies such as meditation, yoga, mindfulness-based stress reduction and Tai Chi. She has served as Stockton University’s holistic health coordinator, authoring several frameworks on the evolution of complementary and alternative medicine in the U.S. and promoting a model of health care that is both patient-centered and culturally responsive.
Her published work reflects a commitment to rigorous scholarship and clinical applicability, covering topics from chronic pain and cancer-related fatigue to cognitive changes associated with chemotherapy and HIV-associated neuropathy.
Honoring the Past, Inspiring the Future
In her deeply moving Scully Lecture, Galantino embodied the values of service, excellence and leadership that define Pitt’s Department of Physical Therapy. She concluded her address with heartfelt words:
“I want to thank Dr. Scully for giving me the wings beneath my feet—to fly, to explore and to learn.”
Indeed, Galantino’s career stands as a living testament to the transformative power of mentorship, the global reach of a Pitt education, and the impact one individual can have when guided by purpose and passion.
The Pitt Department of Physical Therapy extends its sincerest thanks to Mary Lou Galantino for returning to Pitt and sharing her wisdom, inspiration and unwavering enthusiasm for learning with our students, faculty and the broader community.