12/05/2025
Class of 2026 Spotlight🩺🧡
Valerie Galloway
Hometown: Signal Mountain, Tennessee
Undergrad: The University of Tennessee, Knoxville; BA in Global Studies, Pre-Med
Why UTHSC?:I chose UTHSC because I’ve always appreciated the value of the UT network and recognized the PA Program’s strong academic, clinical, and professional resources. Having studied at UT Knoxville and worked at UT Medical Center, continuing my training with UT felt like the natural next step in my career.
Why PA?: Learning how timely intervention and modern medicine can reverse vision loss and positively impact a patient’s quality of life inspired me to continue learning about the pathophysiology of these complex conditions at a higher level.
Clinical Experience:I have 5 years of clinical experience, most recently as a COT with UT Neuro-Ophthalmology at UT Medical Center. Along the way, I learned so much from my supervising physician, and it was a privilege to help patients with acute vision loss or other neurological conditions requiring a higher level of care.
Favorite place in Memphis?: My favorite place to be in Memphis is home with my boyfriend and two cats!
Favorite thing to do post-exam?: My favorite thing to do after finishing an exam is relaxing at home and playing video games with my boyfriend.
Advice for Pre-PAs?: The best decision I made for myself as Pre-PA was taking my time in pursuing new experiences that interested me before applying. There’s no rush if you are just competing with yourself, and you’ll come into the Program with a lot of experience that puts you ahead in some ways, both as a student and future provider. Plus, working for a few years and saving your tuition first saves you money in the end, as you’ll take out fewer loans.
Fun Fact: My first world-record skydive was technically while I was in utero with my mom!
