A Collaborative Team with Shared Purpose
When you join St. Joseph’s Medical Center, you step into a department where clinical expertise, academic mentorship, and community impact intersect. The neurology faculty is intentionally expanding toward a ten-physician model, blending diverse subspecialties with shared commitment to patient care and resident education. Daily huddles, resident-driven teaching, and open communication create a culture where you feel both supported and empowered to shape your practice.
Leadership
- Richard B. Riemer, DO – Program Director & Chief Medical Officer of Touro University Medical Group. Dr. Riemer trained in neurology at UC Davis and is board certified in neurology and clinical neurophysiology. He has over 40 years of experience and is known for his mentorship, passion for teaching, and approachable leadership. He is currently serving as Acting Program Director while a permanent PD is being recruited.
- Scott P. Neeley, MD – Chief Medical Officer of St. Joseph’s Medical Center and Designated Institutional Official for Graduate Medical Education. A Stanford-trained internist and pulmonologist with board certifications in internal medicine, pulmonary diseases, critical care, and hospice/palliative medicine, Dr. Neeley has more than 30 years of experience as a physician, educator, and executive. He has played a pivotal role in establishing and expanding GME programs at St. Joseph’s.
Core Faculty
- Jana Vanek, MD – Fellowship-trained in movement disorders at UC Davis, Dr. Vanek specializes in Parkinson’s disease, tremor, and dystonia. She maintains an outpatient-focused practice (0.8 FTE) and serves as a core faculty member in the residency program. Known for her expertise and approachable style, she balances clinical care with teaching responsibilities.
- Margarita Diltz-Garcha, MD – An epileptologist trained at the University of Arkansas and UC Davis, Dr. Diltz-Garcha specializes in seizure management and EEG interpretation. While her primary focus is outpatient epilepsy care, she also assists with inpatient consults due to program growth. She is board certified in both neurology and epilepsy.
- Deepika Sanga, MD – Neurocritical care fellowship-trained at UC San Diego, Dr. Sanga anchors the inpatient stroke and ICU neurology service. She practices on a two-weeks-on, two-weeks-off schedule, covering acute stroke and neurocritical care cases. Her presence ensures round-the-clock expertise for complex hospitalized patients.
- Cynthia Petria, MD – Board certified in neurology and clinical neurophysiology, Dr. Petria trained in Puerto Rico and provides a blend of general neurology and neurophysiology services, including EEG and EMG interpretation. She is engaged in both inpatient consults and outpatient care.
- Neurology PA – A dedicated advanced practice provider supports the team with prescriptions, triage calls, and routine follow-up management, ensuring physicians can focus their time on direct patient care and teaching.
Residents
The neurology residency program, launched in 2022, now includes a full complement of trainees across all levels (PGY-2 through PGY-4, plus chief resident). Residents provide meaningful support by fielding first-line calls, assisting with consults, and running continuity clinics under attending supervision. Their presence adds both academic vitality and clinical relief for the faculty.
- Approximately 6 core neurologists plus locums and advanced practice support
- Diverse subspecialty expertise spanning movement disorders, epilepsy, neurocritical care, neurophysiology, and general neurology
- Expansion goal: 10 faculty neurologists across inpatient and outpatient teams
- Resident physicians integrated into both inpatient and outpatient care, ensuring strong academic culture and clinical support
- Physician leaders who emphasize mentorship, flexibility, and mission-driven practice
You will join a faculty team that is both highly skilled and deeply collaborative. With approachable mentors like Dr. Riemer, subspecialists covering epilepsy, movement disorders, and neurocritical care, and seasoned academic leaders like Dr. Neeley guiding the program, you will practice in an environment that blends collegiality with purpose.
