Doctor Garriga was born in Puerto Rico. He graduated magna cum laude from the University of Puerto Rico, with a major in math and minors in English and Chemistry. He received his MD from Washington University in Saint Louis. He specialized in internal medicine and Rheumatology at the University of Miami and Washington University. He was in the private practice of medicine until his retirement in 2019.

The son of two college professors, Dr. Garriga has had a lifelong passion for teaching. He says: 

“I practically grew up in the University. It was my playground; this is where I met my friends; where I was treated by every professor as if I were her or his child. My parents frequently took me into their classrooms. I realized how much work they put into making sure that their students understood the material. I learned how to listen when questions were asked.”

In his books Dr. Garriga makes it plain that the best diagnostic and therapeutic tools that medicine has to offer will prove insufficient if the doctor fails to “connect” with his or her patient.

For many years he was an instructor for medical students at Washington University. His students enjoyed his stories so much that they asked him to publish them.

Dr. Garriga lives with his wife; they split their time between Saint Louis and Málaga, Spain. They enjoy listening to all kinds of music, and they are frequently seen hiking the numerous trails and parks available in their adopted cities.