Dr. Hoffmann is an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Department of Internal Medicine. He completed his Internal Medicine Residency training at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston and received his medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston as well. He also has a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science from Texas A&M University at College Station. His professional interests include resident and medical school education. Also has an interest in preventative medicine, such as management of chronic hypertension and diabetes.

Dr. Erin Hommel is a graduate of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas. She also completed her fellowship and residency at Duke University Hospital where she served as Chief Resident. She is board certified in Internal Medicine and Geriatric Medicine. Dr. Hommel currently serves as the Internal Medicine Director of Quality Management, as well as, an Associate Program Director of the internal Medicine Residency Program. She is an assistant professor of Geriatric Medicine and serves as attending faculty on the ACE Unit, Geriatric Consults, and Geriatric Clinic Service.

Dr. Bernard M. Karnath is Professor of General Internal Medicine at the University of Texas Medical Branch.  His educational background includes a Bachelor's degree in Biology from Texas A&M University in Kingsville, Texas, and a M.D. degree and residency/internship training from The University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas. He is the School of Medicine's Co-Director of the Practice of Medicine Year 2 Course and the Co-Director of the Internal Medicine Clerkship. He also serves as senior electives course director for the Department of Internal Medicine. 

Dr. Karnath is involved in community service as a faculty volunteer and student mentor at the St. Vincent's clinic.  The St. Vincent's clinic is a UTMB student-run free clinic that serves the uninsured and underserved people of Galveston County. Dr. Karnath received the Most Dedicated Faculty Award for St. Vincent's clinic in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014.

Dr. Karnath has been the recipient of numerous honors and awards. Some of these include the Golden Apple Award Pre-Clinical Professor for the School of Medicine in 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010 and the Golden Apple Award Clinical Professor for the School of Medicine in 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009.  Dr. Karnath has also been presented with the James W. Powers Memorial Award honoring a teacher of clinical services who, by his instruction and example, best exemplifies the practice of the art and science of medicine. Award presented at the School of Medicine commencement ceremony in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2015 by the graduating class.  Dr. Karnath was inaugurated as a William Osler Scholar in the John P. McGovern Academy of Oslerian Medicine in 2008, the highest honor bestowed onto a teaching faculty at UTMB.

Dr. Karnath is a nationally recognized medical educator.  He was presented with the Herbert S. Waxman Award for Outstanding Medical Student Education by the American College of Physicians in 2013 San Francisco, California.  Shortly thereafter, Dr. Karnath was presented with the Alpha Omega Alpha Robert J. Glaser Distinguished Teacher Award in 2014 in Chicago, Illinois presented by the Alpha Omega Alpha National Honor Society.

Dr. Khowaja is an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Department of Internal Medicine. She completed her Internal Medicine Residency training at UTMB and received her medical degree from Texas A & M University College of Medicine. She also has a Bachelor of Science in Biology with honors as well as in Psychology with honors. Her professional interests include general preventative medicine, and management of chronic conditions such as hypertension.

Dr. Russell LaForte is a native Texan and completed all of his academic and medical training in the University of Texas educational system. He received his Bachelor's degree in Biochemistry at the University of Texas, Austin and his M.D. degree and Residency at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston.

Dr. LaForte’s areas of clinical interest are wellness and obesity. He enjoys leading his patients to healthier lifestyles.

Dr. Leah E. Low is a Texas native and completed all of her academic and medical training in the University of Texas educational system. Her educational background includes a Bachelor’s degree in both Chemistry and Psychology from The University of Texas at Austin and an M.D. degree from The University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas. She also completed her residency in Internal Medicine at The University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas.

Dr. Leah E. Low is an Associate Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine and works as both a hospitalist in Jennie Sealy Hospital and as an ambulatory physician at our Primary Care Pavilion in Galveston. She currently serves as both the Medical Director of the Department of Care Management and the Medical Director of the Patient Placement Center. Additionally, she is our Lead Physician Advisor.

Dr. Low has an extensive background in leadership and quality improvement for the institution. In her role as lead physician advisor, she heads the Utilization Management Committee for our health system and serves on the Quality Chairs Committee. Previously, she served as a Medical Director of several of the inpatient units, Team Leader over a group of faculty physicians, Co-Chair of Quality Improvement for the Department of Internal Medicine, and as an Associate Director of the Internal Medicine Residency Program. She is a graduate of our Scholars in Education course, our Clinical Safety and Effectiveness course, and the Physician Leadership Academy. She is also a diplomat of the American Board of Quality Assurance and Utilization Review Physicians with special certification in Healthcare Quality Management.

Dr. Low also enjoys the opportunity to educate and mentor others. As a faculty physician, Dr. Low closely supervises residents and medical students to ensure appropriate clinical educational opportunities while also maintaining safe and exceptional care of our patients. She has served as a mentor to many students, residents, and junior faculty over the past 11 years. In her role as Physician Advisor and Medical Director of Care Management, she often educates peers on utilization management and CMS guidelines.

 Provider is LGBTQIA+ Responsive

Before entering nurse practitioner school, I received a degree in Executive Nursing Leadership from Wilkes University which served as a solid foundation for nursing processes and collaborations. I am a member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, American Nurses Association, and the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric & Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN). In my free time, I enjoy yoga, meditation, and salsa dancing. I have worked various departments in Women’s Services (Labor & Delivery, Antepartum, Postpartum, OR, GYN, Newborn Nursery and NICU) over the past 15 years and the last 9 years in Family Medicine and Urgent Care.

Dr. Mathis is an Assistant Professor, Family Medicine in the UTMB Health Department of Family Medicine.

Dr. Mathis earned a Bachelor of Arts from Baylor University in Waco, Texas, and a Doctor of Medicine from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Texas. He completed training with the Memorial Family Medicine Residency Program in Sugarland, Texas.

Dr. Mathis is certified by the American Board of Family Medicine. He also completed a fellowship with the UTMB Health Integrative and Behavioral Medicine Fellowship program and completed his advanced certification in clinical acupuncture.

Dr. McKee joined UTMB's Department of Family Medicine in 2003. She completed both medical school and her residency at UTMB. Dr. McKee is board certified in Family Medicine by the American Board of Family Medicine and in Holistic Medicine by the American Board of Holistic Medicine. She is also a member of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. Dr. McKee's interests are in complementary and integrative medicine, medical student education, resident training, women's and children's health and maternity care.

 Provider is LGBTQIA+ Responsive

Dr. Michelle Mercatante is an Associate Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine who joined UTMB after earning her medical degree from the University of Texas Medical School at San Antonio in 1986.

She completed undergraduate training at Houston Baptist University where she earned the Achievement Award for College Scientists in 1981 and graduated Summa Cum Laude earning Bachelor of Science degrees in both Chemistry and Biology in 1982. In 1986 she was awarded the Lange Award for outstanding Academic Achievement from the University of Texas Medical School in San Antonio. She completed internship and residency at UTMB in 1989 and has remained on faculty since this time.  She has served as a faculty preceptor for third and fourth year medical students, and as a preceptor for Community Based Student Education (AHEC), for over 20 years. She also precepts for the General Internal Medicine Statewide preceptorship program, (GIMSPP), teaching first year medical students. She won the Teachers of Distinction Award, “TOP DOC” award, for community based preceptors for exemplary teaching in 2007, and has been named to Castle Connoly's list of Best Doctors in America, a peer based award for excellence in medical care, yearly since 2009.

Last year she was appointed to the Academy of Master Clinicians for excellence in clinical care.  She is board certified in Internal Medicine and is a member of the American College of Physicians, Texas Medical Association, Galveston County Medical Society, and the American Medical Association. She has been with UTMB for over 30 years and continues to have a thriving practice at UTMB's Community based clinic in Texas City where some of her patients have followed her for over 25 years.