Dr Barbagallo qualified from the University of Catania in Italy and trained in Cardiology at Ferrarotto Hospital in Italy where she was particularly involved in the research on drug eluting stents technology, which was the subject of her final thesis.

She was appointed Consultant Imaging Cardiologist at Basildon Hospital in 2011 and joined the Essex Cardiothoracic Centre Imaging Group, contributing in developing advanced echocardiographic techniques.