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. 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.

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.

Dr. Paul Park is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine. He currently serves as Associate Program Director of the Internal Medicine Residency Program and also the Unit Based Clinical Leaders Medical Director for the Jennie Sealy 11C unit. His undergraduate education was at University of Texas at San Antonio, followed by medical school at University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas and completed his residency at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. After serving an additional year as Chief Resident from 2018-2019, Dr. Park joined the faculty in the Division of General Medicine. He currently practices medicine both in the outpatient and inpatient setting. His greatest passion is teaching residents on inpatient rounds as well as outpatient precepting.

Dr. Porterfield has lived all over the world, from Latin America to parts of Asia. Her areas of clinical and research interest include health equity, population health, clinical vaccinology, diabetes, international/immigrant health, women's health, and graduate medical education. Dr. Porterfield chose family medicine because she enjoys the challenge of caring for people across the full spectrum of life-stages and because she believes in the importance of caring—not just for individual patients—but also whole families and communities.

Dr. Porterfield is an Associate Professor in the Department of Family Medicine, an investigator for the Sealy Institute for Vaccine Sciences, and the Vice Chair of Clinical Operations in Family Medicine.

Dr. Porterfield joined the Department of Family Medicine in 2014 after completing her residency with the UTMB Health Family Medicine Residency Program with a concentration in behavioral medicine. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Literature from Wheaton College, a Doctor of Medicine from Baylor College of Medicine, and a Master of Public Health from University of North Texas Health Science Center.

Dr. Angela Raimer joined UTMB Health in July 2013. She received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology from the Honors College at Baylor University in Waco, Texas and received her Doctorate of Medicine from St. George's University School of Medicine. Dr. Raimer completed her residency training at Baylor College of Medicine San Jacinto Family Medicine Program. She is currently board certified in Family Medicine.

Dr. Raimer’s interests include prevention and chronic health maintenance. Dr. Raimer grew up in the Clear Lake area and is happy to practice in an area she considers home. She currently lives on Galveston Island with her husband and three children.

Dr. Mukaila Raji attended medical school at the University of Ife in Nigeria. He also completed his internal medicine residency at Washington Hospital Center in Washington, DC, USA, a Geriatric Fellowship at Duke University in Durham, NC, USA, and Master of Science Degree in pharmacology at the University of Alberta in Canada. Dr. Raji is board certified in Internal Medicine and Geriatrics. He is a tenured Professor and Director of Geriatric Medicine at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. He has published over 80 peer-reviewed articles, 80 research abstracts, and several book chapters in the areas of geriatric pharmacology, cognitive aging, and disability.

Dr. Raji is a recipient of the 2006 Sir William Osler Excellence in Clinical Teaching Award and has earned the Edgar Gnitzinger Distinguished Professorship in Aging. He is also listed in U.S. News & World Report Top Doctors in America and has been listed in Super Doctors®. Dr. Raji teaches medical students, residents, and geriatrics fellows and serves as attending faculty on the Acute Care for the Elders Unit, Geriatric Consults, and Geriatric Clinic Service.