Dr. Palley is a professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine. She received her MD from UNM in 1986, and completed her residency at the Santa Monica Family Medicine Residency Program, in Santa Monica, California in 1989. She returned to New Mexico and joined the UNM faculty in the Department of Family Medicine in 1993 and has been at the University since. Over the years she has been very involved in many areas of resident and medical student education, and in many clinical settings.

She now focuses on outpatient primary care at the UNM Family and Internal Medicine Clinic (also known as the 1209 Clinic). She has followed many of her patients for over 20 years, and finds great fulfillment in caring for patients throughout their lives. Her teaching activities include working with both medical students and residents. She also is the co-medical director of the 1209 clinic. She is board certified by the American Board of Family Medicine. Her clinical work includes direct patient care and outpatient procedures, such as joint injections, small skin procedures and colposcopy.