Dr. Clark joined UTMB in 2008 after completing his residency at UTMB in Galveston and his medical degree from the University of North Texas Health Science Center, Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine. He was appointed the medical director of the Internal Medicine residency clinic and has been engaged in clinic process improvement to provide quality care for the patients and the best learning environment for residents. Dr. Clark is heavily involved with quality improvement efforts in the clinics as well as the hospital. He gained training in the field of health care quality by attending the MD Anderson Cancer Center Clinical Safety and Effectiveness course.

Shelly Doss is a board certified Family Nurse Practitioner currently practicing at The University of Texas Medical Branch. She has provided critical care in surgery, trauma, burn and transplant intensive care units in a variety of academic medical centers. She obtained a master's degree in critical care/education and worked in the emergency department and in critical care units for the Department of Defense where she taught Advanced Cardiac Life Support and the Trauma Nursing Core Course at William Beaumont Army Medical Center and Wilford Hall Air Force Medical Center.

She has served as a faculty member at the University of Texas Medical Branch and at Texas Woman's University/ Parkland Campus in Dallas. She returned to Texas Woman's University to obtain a postgraduate certification as a family nurse practitioner and after several years in a collaborative internal medicine practice in San Antonio, she returned to the University of Texas Medical Branch and worked in the Division of Cardiology for thirteen years.

She is now practicing in Internal Medicine and enjoys providing comprehensive, individualized patient care. In addition, she works in collaboration with others teaching medical residents and nursing students empathy in clinical practice and conflict management. Her research interests are focused in biomedical ethics. She is a member of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, American College of Cardiology, American Heart Association, American Association of Critical Care Nurses and Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society.

Alberto Gutierrez completed his medical degree at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and his residency at the University of Texas Medical Branch. He worked as faculty at the Vermont Medical Center in 2016 before joining faculty at UTMB in 2018.

He focuses on outpatient care and preventive services. He places a strong emphasis on patient education to improve outcomes and previously taught clinical skills to physicians in training. He is currently accepting patients at the Primary Care Pavilion and is fluent in Spanish.

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. 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

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.

Dr. Michael Nguyen is an Assistant Professor for the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. Raised in Texas City, TX., he has lived in Galveston County for nearly 40 years. Following undergraduate studies at the University of Houston, he attended the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas, TX., and then completed residency training at UTMB in 2006. He has been a part of our faculty group practice ever since. His clinical responsibilities include hospitalist medicine at Jenny Sealy Hospital. He also has a thriving outpatient practice and serves as the Medical Director of Internal Medicine at Victory Lakes Multi-Specialty Center, in League City, TX. His clinical interests include General Primary Care, Preventative Medicine, control of Hypertension, Diabetes, Hyperlipidemia and prevention of Heart Disease. Importantly, he is very involved with the education and teaching of medical and nurse practitioner students as well as medical residents.