Jim Galvin was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. He attended the University of Cincinnati where he received an undergraduate degree in Physics and Master of Science degrees in both Nuclear Engineering and Medical Physics. He chose Medical Physics as his true interest and left Cincinnati to work at the Harvard Joint Center for Radiation Therapy in Boston. After two years working at the joint program of the Harvard Hospitals, he resumed his education. He earned a Doctor of Science degree in Medical Physics from the Harvard School of Public Health in 1975. In addition to working at the Harvard Affiliated Hospitals, he held faculty positions, worked clinically treating cancer patients, and conducting research at both the University of Pennsylvania and New York University. He then moved to Thomas Jefferson University and Jefferson Hospital where he held the position of Professor and was Director of the Division of Medical Physics for the Department of Radiation Oncology. He ended his career working as one of the Principal Investigator for a National Cancer Institute funded grant providing quality assurance for clinical trials that included radiation therapy as a cancer treatment modality.
Jim met his wife Norma Kaplis when they were both students at Harvard in 1971. Jim and Norma live in the Bucks County area near Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania. They also live part of the year on Monhegan Island in Maine.
Norma in her Bucks County PA garden.
Norma is an artist and retired dentist. Norma spends half of each year in her studio on Monhegan Island off the coast of Maine. She sells her paintings on the island along with clothing she designs and makes in her spare time.
Magazine photograph of Norma’s garden.
Norma also has a wonderful garden on Monhegan Island in Maine. Most of the images shown on this website were taken while visiting Monhegan and working in Norma’s studio. The photo shown here was part of an article in a magazine that featured Monhegan gardens. It was taken from the porch of Norma’s studio and across her garden toward Monhegan Island harbor.