Dr. Joseph S. Galati, host of "Your Health First," is a native of Long Island, N.Y. He received his undergraduate degree at Syracuse University and attended St. George's University School of Medicine.

Following medical school, Dr. Galati was an intern and resident in internal medicine at State University of New York Health Science Center-Brooklyn (formerly Downstate Medical Center)/Kings County Hospital Center, one of the premier teaching hospitals in the country. He remained an additional year in the department to assume responsibilities as the chief medical resident in the Department of Medicine under the direction of Dr. Donald E. Wilson, currently the dean at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

Wanting to pursue further training and expertise in liver disease and transplant medicine, Dr. Galati left New York for Omaha, Neb, where he performed his fellowship training in gastroenterology, hepatology, and transplant medicine at University of Nebraska Medical Center.

After completion of his fellowship training, Dr. Galati joined the faculty at University of Texas Medical School-Houston in 1994. In 1996, he became medical director of transplant hepatology at University of Texas Medical School. In the spring of 1999, Dr. Galati left his full-time position at University of Texas Medical School to form a private practice with many of his university colleagues. In addition, he was named medical director of the newly formed St. Luke's Texas Liver Institute at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital. In the spring of 2001, he formed Liver Specialists of Texas.

Dr. Galati's current practice is devoted to the care of patients with both acute and chronic liver disease, as well as individuals with disorders of the digestive tract. The majority of his referrals are for patients with chronic type C hepatitis — most of which have previously failed some form of therapy or have now developed complications. He has conducted research in several areas of liver disease, including the effect of liver disease on the function of the stomach and intestines as well as viral hepatitis in collaboration with other colleagues nationally as well as in the Texas Medical Center.

Dr. Galati has been an invited speaker both nationally and internationally, having lectured in Latin America, Europe, and Asia. He is also a founding board member of the Texas Liver Coalition, a non-profit organization providing education and support to those with all types of liver disease.

Dr. Galati is also a diplomat with the American Board of Internal Medicine.

When not practicing medicine, Dr. Galati is an avid photographer, currently completing "Great Hands of Texas," a collection of photographs featuring the hands of some of Texas' greatest living legends. Many of the photographs are proudly displayed in the office.