Wall Doctor Charged With Child Sex Abuse Loses License

WALL, NJ — A Wall physician facing child sexual assault charges has agreed to surrender his medical license pending the outcome of his criminal case, Attorney General Matthew Platkin and the Division of Consumer Affairs announced on Thursday.

Cornelius Gallagher, a pulmonologist previously affiliated with three Monmouth County hospitals, was first arrested in July 2023 by Wall Township Police after an investigation revealed that he began sexually abusing a minor in 2004, Platkin said.

The victim was under the age of 13 at the time, according to officials, and Gallagher is accused of continuing the abuse for over a decade.

In July 2024, Gallagher was indicted on two counts of aggravated sexual assault, two counts of sexual assault and one count of child endangerment (possession of child pornography).

According to the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, the charges are not connected to Gallagher’s interactions with any patient.

“The sexual exploitation of a child, as is alleged here, is one of the most heinous crimes that can be committed. When a physician is facing these types of charges, the action taken by the Board is not only appropriate, but necessary,” Attorney General Platkin said. “Until these charges are resolved, public protection demands that he remain out of practice and have no contact with patients.”

Gallagher is currently on leave from all hospitals he was previously affiliated with and is not currently practicing medicine, officials said.

In a Consent Order filed with the board on Sept. 9, Gallagher agreed to voluntarily surrender his medical license pending the resolution of the case and until further order of the State Board of Medical Examiners.

In the order, Gallagher is required to end all patient contact and end providing medical care in the state, including dispensing or issuing prescriptions for medications of any type.

“The alleged conduct of this doctor, if proven, would demonstrate a callous victimization of a vulnerable child that violates the most basic standards to which we hold medical professionals,” Cari Fais, the acting director of the Division of Consumer Affairs, said. “We thank the Board for securing the surrender of this doctor’s license in the face of these criminal charges.”

In addition to Gallagher ending patient contact, he is also barred from entering his medical practice during business hours when patients may be present, and is not allowed to manage, oversee, supervise, or influence medical practice or provision of healthcare activities in the state, including testifying as an expert witness or serving as an expert consultant.

Though Gallagher cannot charge, receive, or share in any fee for professional services provided by others, he is permitted to collect accounts receivable concerning professional services that he provided before the filing date of the Interim Consent Order.

Deputy Attorney General Kate Calendar, under the supervision of Professional Boards Prosecution Section Chief Doreen Hafner, within the Division of Law’s Affirmative Civil Enforcement Practice Group is representing the State in the matter.

Patients who believe they have received medical treatment by an unlicensed or inadequately licensed provider, or have been treated by a licensed professional in an inappropriate or unsafe manner, can file an online complaint with the State Division of Consumer Affairs by visiting their website, calling 1-800-242-5846 or calling 973-504-6200.

Read Patch’s previous reporting:

• Doctor Charged With Sexual Abuse Of Juvenile For A Decade In Wall