Devin Galligan
Encyclopedia
M. Devin Galligan was the founder of the charitable organization "Strain the Brain" which was founded to raise money for cancer patients at Vanderbilt University Medical Center
. He later succumbed to that disease.
He was a 1990 graduate of the Baylor School
in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He attended Hampden-Sydney College
, but did not graduate. He received his B.A. from Fordham University
in 1994. After graduation, he was a teacher in the New York City
School system. He returned to Nashville after a couple of years in New York and was employed by the State Street Bank & Trust Company.
He served at Vanderbilt University Medical Center as a volunteer counselor after having a carcinoma
removed from his brain in December 1996. The Reporter, a magazine of VUMC described the procedure as an "awake craniotomy
". As they describe it, it is a "procedure [that] is a special form of brain mapping surgery paired with sophisticated anesthesiology techniques. The patient is in a deep sleep during the first phase, but is awakened later during the surgery to perform a series of tests to help guide surgeons through the rugged pathways of the brain."
After his surgery, he began training for triathlons and iron man contests. He was one of the carriers of the Olympic Torch for the 1996 Summer Olympics
in Atlanta.
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
The Vanderbilt University Medical Center is a collection of several hospitals and clinics, as well as the schools of medicine and nursing associated with Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee.It comprises the following units:...
. He later succumbed to that disease.
He was a 1990 graduate of the Baylor School
Baylor School
Baylor School is a private, coeducational prep school on the outskirts of Chattanooga, Tennessee. The school was founded in 1893 and since 1915 has been located on the same hillside site by the Tennessee River. The school went through several incarnations: moving from an all-male military academy...
in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He attended Hampden-Sydney College
Hampden-Sydney College
Hampden–Sydney College is a liberal arts college for men located in Hampden Sydney, Virginia, United States. Founded in 1775, Hampden–Sydney is the oldest private charter college in the Southern U.S., the last college founded before the American Revolution, and one of only three four-year,...
, but did not graduate. He received his B.A. from Fordham University
Fordham University
Fordham University is a private, nonprofit, coeducational research university in the United States, with three campuses in and around New York City. It was founded by the Roman Catholic Diocese of New York in 1841 as St...
in 1994. After graduation, he was a teacher in the New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
School system. He returned to Nashville after a couple of years in New York and was employed by the State Street Bank & Trust Company.
He served at Vanderbilt University Medical Center as a volunteer counselor after having a carcinoma
Carcinoma
Carcinoma is the medical term for the most common type of cancer occurring in humans. Put simply, a carcinoma is a cancer that begins in a tissue that lines the inner or outer surfaces of the body, and that generally arises from cells originating in the endodermal or ectodermal germ layer during...
removed from his brain in December 1996. The Reporter, a magazine of VUMC described the procedure as an "awake craniotomy
Craniotomy
A craniotomy is a surgical operation in which a bone flap is temporarily removed from the skull to access the brain. Craniotomies are often a critical operation performed on patients recording, brain imaging, and for neurological manipulations such as electrical stimulation and chemical...
". As they describe it, it is a "procedure [that] is a special form of brain mapping surgery paired with sophisticated anesthesiology techniques. The patient is in a deep sleep during the first phase, but is awakened later during the surgery to perform a series of tests to help guide surgeons through the rugged pathways of the brain."
After his surgery, he began training for triathlons and iron man contests. He was one of the carriers of the Olympic Torch for the 1996 Summer Olympics
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
in Atlanta.