Meghan Gallegos Honored with Vail Health Elevate Award
The Howard Head Sports Physical Therapist is Honored by Patients for Exceptional Care
Meghan Gallegos has been named the third recipient of the Vail Health Elevate Award.
Vail Health created the Elevate Award in June 2022 to give patients and their families an opportunity to nominate and thank employees who have touched their lives in some way.
Based at the Vail Health Hospital location of Howard Head Sports Medicine, Gallegos was nominated by Phillip Montville, a National Ski Patrol Instructor Trainer, Professional Ski Instructors of America Education Staff Examiner emeritus, and retired National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians.
During the past 10 years, Gallegos has served as the lead physical therapist throughout Montville’s recovery from eight reconstructive hip surgeries, which were caused by a rare genetic disorder.
National Ski Patrol Instructor Trainer Travels to Vail for Exceptional Care
“It’s said patients go to Vail for the surgeons, but they stay and come back for the Howard Head Sports Medicine Physical Therapists. Meghan is the diamond standard of them all.”
Moreover, Gallegos has been a physical therapist at Howard Head for 15 years. In addition to treating patients, she leads training, education and mentoring related to hip rehabilitation for all clinical staff. She has been instrumental in elevating post-operative care for patients recovering from hip surgery across all 10 locations, in Summit and Eagle County and throughout the Roaring Fork Valley.
Furthermore, past Elevate Award winners include: Erin Perejda, the supportive care services manager and licensed clinical social worker at Vail Health Shaw Cancer Center, who was honored in June 2022; and Dr. Susan Vickerman, a family medicine physician at Colorado Mountain Medical, who was honored in August 2022.
Patients and family members are encouraged to nominate staff who have made a meaningful difference in their health care experience. Nominees can work in any area of the Vail Health health care system, including admissions, laboratory, surgery centers, Howard Head Sports Medicine, Shaw Cancer Center, Colorado Mountain Medical, Eagle Valley Behavioral Health and more.