Mary Pat Gallagher, MD

I chose a career in medicine because I recognized that compassion and kindness have an enormous impact on a person’s experience in a healthcare setting, and hoped I could provide those things as a doctor. I chose to specialize in pediatric endocrinology because I love working with children and their families.

At the Robert I. Grossman, MD, and Elisabeth J. Cohen, MD, Pediatric Diabetes Center, we focus on education and maintaining good health when treating children who have diabetes. Our team consists of pediatric endocrinologists, certified diabetes educators who are nurses and dietitians, a clinical social worker, a psychologist, and a child life specialist. We work closely with the Sala Institute for Child and Family Centered Care to provide integrated health services and additional resources for families.

Our philosophy is that most children who have diabetes are healthy at the time of diagnosis and need not develop complications if they are able to control their blood sugar levels. We feel our job is to help children maintain their health by providing them with the emotional support that is so important when a family is managing a chronic medical condition. Our focus on education is tailored to each child’s stage of development, because children will learn differently at each stage of their intellectual and social development.

For several years, I have been fortunate to be included in Castle Connolly’s “Top Doctors” series for the New York Metro Area, as well as in its “America’s Top Doctors” series. I’ve also been recognized in Super Doctors as a “New York Super Doctor.”