Dr. Hillary Gallagher

Hillary grew up in Exeter, Rhode Island. She went to Springfield College in Western Massachusetts for both her undergraduate degree and her Doctor of Physical Therapy, and swam on the varsity team while she was there.

She started her career at an outpatient orthopedic clinic in Rhode Island and went on to become its Clinic Director, mentoring and training newer physical therapists along the way. When her boyfriend Matt was promoted to a role in Western Michigan, they moved here, and she joined Ruther Health + Wellness.

Her continuing education covers dry needling (Levels I and II), the evaluation and treatment of vestibular disorders, and rehab after gluteus medius repair. She is also an APTA credentialed Clinical Instructor.

Her treatment combines individualized exercise programs, hands-on manual therapy and dry needling, built around each patient’s goals. Outside the clinic she spends time with Matt and their cat Pepper, bakes and cooks, reads, watches football, works out and explores the area.

Ask me about

Anything orthopedic, especially shoulders (her own introduction to physical therapy) and hip injuries, which she trained in extensively before coming to Ruther Health.

What I want to fix

The idea that things are “good enough” or that your pain can’t be fixed.

“I want to do something splendid… something heroic or wonderful that won’t be forgotten after I’m dead.” — Jo March, Little Women (Louisa May Alcott)

What patients say

Hillary Gallagher has been amazing! I’ve only had three sessions but trust her completely to help get me to a pain free existence.

This was by far the best physical therapy I have received over many years of tackling physical problems. Hillary was the most knowledgeable PT I ever worked with and I thank her over and over again for her help.

Highly recommend! Hillary was the bomb! Listens to her patients and acts accordingly. I started with an injury on my left leg which she treated and I felt much better. But then pain started in my left leg as well. She worked on that but then due to my extremely hectic schedule and the long drive to PT I could no longer fit it in and had to quit coming. Hillary gave me a home program to work on. I cannot recommend Hillary enough. She’s very experienced, friendly and flexible. She is awesome at what she does.