A Great Conversation With Steven Galetta

George Park (GP): It is an absolute pleasure for me to introduce Dr. Steven Galetta. He is the Philip K. Moskowitz Professor and Chair of Neurology at NYU. He got his medical degree from Cornell University, followed by a neurology residency at the University of Pennsylvania. Afterward, Dr. Galetta did his fellowship in neuro-ophthalmology at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Miami. He's also the recipient of more than 50 teaching awards nationally and locally over the course of his distinguished career. Dr. Galetta has trained approximately 40 fellows and countless number of residents and medical students, bringing many into the field of neuro-ophthalmology, including 3 of us on this call. And, so, it's an absolute pleasure to be kicking off this Great Conversation with Dr. Galetta. Steven Galetta (SG): Great. It's a pleasure to be here. GP: And so, typically, Dr. Galetta, we'd like to start it off by hearing a little bit about your background and some stories about your upbringing. SG: Well, you guys know that I grew up in Brooklyn, New York. So, this accent is real. And it's been a subject of controversy throughout my life. In fact, I never was able to lose this accent and when I went to Penn, they wanted to send me to a speech therapist. And this is a very true story. I thought everybody else was talking funny and they're telling me I'm talking funny. And so, fortunately, some people reassured me that I didn't need that kind of therapy. And I've tried to limit it, but the accent just seems to follow me wherever I go. I grew up in Brooklyn, and it was a wonderful childhood because I didn't know any better. We had friends on every single block, and we would get together and hang out on the corner. So, my gang was known as, “The Corner.” And you would go out and there would always be somebody to play with. Everything was defined by the sewers that were in the street. So, the street was a pop-up field for everything: for a track meet, for a football game, for a slap ball game, for a stickball game. And everything was measured by how well you could do between 2 sewers [or manhole covers, as some may call them]. So, that was my childhood—hanging out, getting involved in a little mischief here and there, and playing sports. Regarding my parents, my mother was a nurse, an RN, and my father was a New York City policeman. I think they had a great influence on me going into medicine because they believed in service and taking care of people, but it wasn't always very easy because my parents got divorced when I was 10 years. And that meant that I was a latchkey kid, letting myself into the house. My father would feed us, leave to his place, and then my mom would come home. No one was there to look over my shoulder regarding homework and so it began an important phase of self-motivation to get out of my situation. I had to work very hard, which I did. But I wasn't always very smart. I had to claw my way through every aspect of getting to where I had to go. I went to high school, like 2 blocks away, Xaverian High School, which was an all-boys school. And my mother had to beg for me to get admitted. I was initially rejected and, somehow, she was able to beg the Brothers to let me in. So, I was put in the lowest class possible. You know, they had like 3 levels; I was in level 3. So, I had to fight my way all the way from level 3 in my high school. SG: But one important thing that happened in high school, the Brothers would tell you what to do and if you didn't do it, there were consequences. The second day of school in my freshman year, we had a field day and they made us run; I was fortunate that I could run very fast. So, one of the Brothers came up to me and said, “Guess what? You're going to be running track for the 4 years while you're here.” I had no choice. I would have liked to have played basketball and baseball. But, that was all taken out right then and, there, you didn't argue with the Brothers. So, I ran track in high school and that was a good thing for me; it led to being recruited for track and football out of high school and, to be honest, that's what I cared about most during those high school years. Rachel Calix (RC): So, you said that you were very motivated at that time. Do you remember what your idea of future success was back then? Did you have anything particular in mind? SG: Yeah. I wanted to be a professional football player. That was my idea of success, and I probably had enough brain damage along the way to really think that that was the right decision. I didn't understand what a career in medicine was about at that time. I was really just taking it 1 step at a time. Such that, when I applied to colleges, I mainly applied to the colleges that I was recruited to for athletics, with one exception. I applied to Hunter College here in New York to the nursing school and, again, I didn't really understand what it took to be premed. Overall, I had the best recruiting time at Penn. That was really what set me in motion to go to Penn as an undergrad for track and field. The coach there was a famous coach, an Olympian named Irv Mondschein, and he took me out to a an He talking to me in and I had no idea what he was talking But, I he was And so that's how I up So, did that start you on more about and medicine and all of that at SG: I didn't know what else to do to be about My mother was me from when I was a little that I be a a I got to Penn, my again, that I was going to be a professional So, I took the and it was the of a of the class was taking and and all I was at an because my high school, which is a great school, that we would have a in a than and that this would be the for SG: In of we had we had in in and everything in I didn't really have in high school. So, when I went to of class at Penn, I as well have put on the in of there were went on to very famous in this very of they for and then there was I a from again, at the lowest level and my way up and I a of from my friends that I made SG: I made my friends my and they me some about how to It was an to the go on the and go to my coach and I go to And he would to you're in the The is it's So, they were all to getting me in the right I would have to to the I think he for I would have to to this was an were just that I was going to it SG: So, that was and I every of It's how your for the And, so, I made it was your SG: It was GP: SG: I went to a class with this named and he was just in talking about the in and how may understand better. He was of his time and I it really and were my where along the way did you really to SG: I was and it got that year, for I to to what I to I was very about how I would go to because I was in every single the for all 4 years. So, you were a over the So, I was very it went and I just on that I remember an speech that I got from my track coach, He us and he said, there going be 3 that important to you while you're SG: And I'm going to be your every step of the And that me to right the second thing is athletics, and you're going be to The thing is your life. And you be good at 2 of the 3. And, which 2 you're going be good Well, I would the wasn't all but we were all because they did look at and they did to us about So, we did have to to that So, I went and I I was going to be a professional wasn't good But and the of were of to GP: we get to the medical school I do have to that Dr. Galetta did have success with his track by the It wasn't just an track career. I you made the and everything back in the SG: we did. We in the at the in the And let me just that's one important you always with great I had some great and they all the I was there for the but they us It was an and I'm friends with to this We go out and have of here in New the 4 at the Penn and off to University of in with parents, and GP: So, on to medical school and that decision. You up going to Cornell for medical school. us through the to to medicine and then to SG: this is where the a little is kind of because I never thought be in this and I got into Penn very In those getting in was in everything really the medical school in of your I really Penn, but my she wanted to be in New York and so, that's how I up in New York at But one along the way that is I get at and it's a single 1 I get in there and a and the to you going to do if you get into medical And this is I think of that And I said, I've been I got into medical school And he I you to the as if you didn't get into medical SG: I didn't do all that well on the I didn't get into medical school, I had myself going to and all this Well, you know what? I probably got rejected from medical school in so I so when Cornell would play in I would get all up because of what they did to rejected me for no good I for a good in has a way of SG: here I here in the in that I thought be NYU. And I myself my career that this would be the But and people into your an and you just know where that come of my and most important was Dr. And it so that he was at Penn, but then he the at NYU. back to medical school. I to the right and to the of I that I was the in the class to medical school. SG: is really I wasn't good in anything but neurology and I could when it came to the and I could the in my and so would me and I was this is a of me everybody they're how I I wasn't good in anything But it me an important that you need to be good at one You have to be good at So, that's how I got on the to neurology during medical school and for So, there any during that in medical school that you SG: He was a and he the was and, you know, what my about was that he would He was like in many in that he would on the and I was a very that I could really just a of what was on the and it into my He would with at the he was So, he would be the and be going like this of the with 2 and then the were off on like this of the to the And that just me with his and to be able to do I was this a he to the of medical school. he me and he got me really about I never had the to tell about So, did you that on the SG: You know what? I a I like the and the I think I got like an in I got for tell you about my career. That in the second I'm going to my they us into the and to and so The come over to me and they is going to on and you the to the that I have no no So, you how fortunate I that I was good in neurology and that I didn't have a career I had to it did you get the neuro-ophthalmology then? that in neurology as a medical in the SG: You're a very good So, I'm medical school. you know, was but good In of year, I and I I said, I have been an but I had no to I had in neurology and so I said, know I but I'm just to be an So, I go to Penn, and by which is with would all neuro-ophthalmology to Penn. is probably in Great and in his in this of the And the were so we to call because the would from City into Penn, SG: And we would here over City into We would get like 4 neuro-ophthalmology and they would have would have the they would get a they would get a and we would It was a of that we did and so that was easy for me to I could be kind of I get the I get the I put the and it was to the could you do all that I it and I that were 2 was the service and there was the else SG: I would with the people going into I said, you do the do And that's how it went I was would a a and the would be in a He would like all the on the and I would to a of all of it in my It was so would into a get in the he had made the was out by the time I was in. He was just a that the best he would with you and he would didn't with And, so, it was So, you were SG: I was my I was It was that of an It was a good when you neurology you had to do a SG: Yeah. So, what going so I tell my where the great for neuro-ophthalmology I tell I she to you know if you're going to I be on the that kind of that and for So, I had no It again, a when I went to Bascom That was a really for my was there SG: had there and so you really have to what on this tell me to up at in the my at Bascom I'm no I'm just there and Did I get the I'm to be here at and, no here and it's And then the in and Dr. I said, So, they me over to this and was the Chair of at Bascom He out a and he the and he He to me about your SG: So, I tell about my and he you like your I said, I like my he me about your So, I tell about my and he to you like your I said, I like my And then he me if I had any I to about my and it was the So, I out of out of I was about this high bringing and I I had to be at that in time. I was just I up at no here. And the was like I have been on a I wanted to run out of Bascom but I had no I go to I go to I had to it and up at SG: came in and had this little that they could in. I thought that they would it up and like the and run with the me up a and said, been He those been by and to you the fellowship how I up at Bascom a great that SG: I was did that it was like he was getting to me the that's how I up at Bascom SG: It was the of at Bascom SG: it was good because we were the set of fellows were in a In you with and with were 2 the they for the that they were going to it and that we would I would with Dr. for the time and with and the of the time. That was because they all had great SG: was an and I talking in my about He would the for the about 10 So, you would He would out the and it would go on for you from was all the you could out for SG: He had a that he would do the off the he would have his and he would put the in the and he would do the He just did it all and you all the was a and I My that me was on the and I kind of the was when the that was was by So, I it was again, was this would just in and an fortunate to be to those and to just what you from SG: It was an It wasn't always I SG: were very people and and that there were 2 at the was in fellowship with you at that SG: and I think they went into I have the on from your a at that you're an and that you're able to an on a of if you to about for that that has always been the that you through your and SG: The great thing about being is that got to really I just everybody and that's what she probably there and I think that I got it I could just it most of the time and go over it and over it and over it and get out of And I would get out of that I really didn't understand at I think there is a of in the to get where you really to for for here you at Bascom And then did you get recruited to Penn right out of what SG: so Dr. of Penn said, go there, and you in a We really to start a neuro-ophthalmology service at Penn. That wasn't very it was because the Eye was there there was of neuro-ophthalmology for everybody in the I'm to the for me to be a and I think it all out well for everybody that was involved in the by 2 while a at Penn. to and K. in the at Penn, the to of Galetta, and Penn of you us through some of the of your career at Penn and some of the that you most in your SG: Yeah. So, 1 into being an in they said, be the residency for And I said, going to you for you didn't get for it in those I said, I made as my But, it was the thing that happened to me and I think it that you more than you to that people to you if you you have to understand you're else you that you to So, I had no you need some and you really have that kind of as a career It me to really get involved in It made me how I that between a and a And, in most the between what is SG: It me to get great at and the future of the because were people were going to do So, you a of people were your may to were able to but they always would come to you for and you would from all those that you had with So, that was an that I got on to be a and I would do it for SG: I got on the for Penn and, one year, they said, you be the Chair of the for the medical I said, And then a of years they said, going you the of you do I said, do So, I have said way more than and all of those along the I an about great in medicine and what it Did we we but we from those GP: it's to you about your in this of this because you have trained so many students, a of people the way about you as this and with an So, it's really good to you about your for SG: I tell you about in residency that was very important that we didn't really get it's I'm here I a in neurology in and I Dr. I said to I really would like to work with you on a and he said, we have this that we have to in And I said, me So, he that it would be for because this time was a any of the were He thought that, like there would be a of the and would into So, my was to the to a And, as I always at the and it did I would at the and I would have to SG: So, my was being able to run to and get the in the and then run back and and get to the And so, a in and it got as the we for of this was to Dr. was an in and many of the that we But, most for it began a with and he as one of my then and what would you is your got a of that we would all But what do you think is your SG: my I think you're at right here. I have no in my that the has been the to with the at every level and I'm of being of the of the residents and fellows I've with. No about the most important aspect of all of this and I'm so of in neurology and in neuro-ophthalmology and I would do anything for to teaching is really I'm I for everybody that has your and and which has just been so So, SG: no I to get but they're like my And so it Yeah. for But you tell You You have very SG: Yeah. had no choice. It was like the Brothers at they would get GP: so we got to about the how did you to the back to New York with and Dr. and of of and in my is really So, he in He me to his It was in New York. So, I come up from and he I you to you know of people at this thing where you the He me to and he this is the I would like to be the of And to He said, how is it going to SG: of us of off at that it got a little So, that began the went a of neurology for 4 years. were on a for the of I know how many people they but I know that time they got to a would call me and he me up SG: He would you to be Chair of I said, I to be Chair of We would for a and the call would But in of the of that it's and I get a call from And I know where I I was just my high school game. He on the and he to you I said, It was good to from He like you to be Chair of I said, I to be Chair of SG: I had been a and I had like I what they went and I the I it was and I there were going be So, he to I said, I really like talking about is I really like talking about He have to about It's all I said, is in my I'm And, he said, what else is I said, I really like telling people my was telling people good I'm recruiting for I'm recruiting for medical school. my I'm a SG: So, he said, you really have to tell I said, I really really do He this is what the to me you at Penn and your be But if you really to come to and And I said to my this my think I and that I did was going be just So, I said, come He said, you up here the 2 I said, you 2 I got I got He said, I a had somebody is like probably the SG: And so I go up in 2 and, the time that I where I went up and every on this was and it like he had no I that, a my he had everybody he had the I didn't know that So, every was and with a So, somehow, I said, I know how it so this really did I went to my and the would my 3 and my my parents, and my I had all on I go I I was really I did and this to the that you never a you know the said that I and I wasn't what that did they just to get of me what? The no was my and I never with my on So, I it was a that I go. And so that's how it went The to and The to and George Park of and Galetta, and what a story. really SG: So, then I a about all the I and this and And all I got back And I was was about I be in a good story. So, what do you do in your You have any but what do you do for SG: a I work out of So, I go and do the I that I really my I work out and I as as I did when I was but I and the I didn't know SG: it's kind of a but you all have to have some But We SG: We I have so many I like It was like a my that like a what? that's So, what would you to somebody in years about and all that kind of And would you influence people to go into would you SG: I think it's a wonderful that really is great for somebody got to and is to the and You so about people and you It's the most of the and it up for the for and for the to about So, is there anything we didn't about that you like you wanted to get out SG: I would just that in every there is always You have to look for It may be there right But at some it So, you got to be about it and be on the for And I the about is to to get in the the that in to it and always there 2 to the And always to get that 3 The the and the SG: You know what? You I'm always 3 It's like a The the and the SG: I'm And you know if you people in to get to where they the be always think about how you your the to you because the be more for Well, this has been one of the It's a I have to all been along the way because it's been And you everything You everything You really We this was going to be a really It's also wonderful to have a of your fellows I think that's a a for SG: The most about all this was to really with you and to you That really made me I really it the So, you for this