Title(s)
- Associate Professor of Neurology
- Director, Critical Care Continuous EEG Monitoring
- Consultant, UPMC Sleep Medicine Center
- Neurology Consultant, Pittsburgh Steelers
- Chair, Neurology Wellness Committee
Biographical Sketch
Dr. Joanna Fong-Isariyawongse is a triple board-certified neurologist, sleep specialist, and epileptologist, and serves as Associate Professor of Neurology at the University of Pittsburgh. Her work bridges clinical neuroscience, human performance, and public health, with recognized expertise in cognitive performance neurology, which examines how the brain sustains focus, decision-making, and recovery under pressure.
Clinical Leadership
Dr. Fong-Isariyawongse provides expert care for patients with epilepsy and sleep disorders, including those referred for surgical evaluation of medically refractory epilepsy. As Director of the Critical Care Continuous EEG Monitoring Service, she oversees continuous EEG across eight UPMC hospitals, facilitating timely neuroelectrophysiologic monitoring in critically ill patients. Her commitment to patient-centered care has earned her UPMC’s Excellence in Patient Experience Award and consistent recognition as a Pittsburgh Magazine Best Doctor (2019–2025).
Performance & Consultation
Beyond the hospital, Dr. Fong-Isariyawongse advises high-stakes professionals including athletes, executives, pilots, first responders, and healthcare teams on strategies to optimize cognitive performance, neural recovery, and decision-making in demanding environments.
She collaborates with the Gatorade Sports Science Institute (GSSI) and the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) on educational initiatives for athletes, coaches, trainers, and sports nutritionists, exploring how sleep, circadian biology, and recovery influence performance consistency and precision.
Dr. Fong-Isariyawongse’s work integrates clinical neurology, performance neuroscience, and advocacy to advance understanding of how to train, protect, and optimize the brain across medicine, sports, and public health.
National Leadership & Committees
Dr. Fong-Isariyawongse serves on multiple national committees shaping the future of neurology, sleep medicine, and sports medicine:
- American Academy of Neurology (AAN): Health Policy Subcommittee; participant in Neurology on the Hill, Off the Hill, Legislative Summit, and Brain Health Summit.
- American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM): Advocacy Committee
- American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM): Advocacy Committee and Health & Science Policy Committee.
- Pennsylvania Neurological Society: Board Member and representative to the Pennsylvania Medical Society.
- Epilepsy Association of Western & Central PA: Physician Advisory Committee.
- Epilepsy Foundation of Eastern PA: Professional Advisory Board.
- International Consensus Conference on Concussion in First Responders: Member of the Return-to-Duty Workgroup, developing evidence-based recommendations for when first responders can safely return to duty after concussion.
She also chairs the UPMC Neurology Wellness Committee and contributes to numerous institutional leadership initiatives at UPMC and Pitt Neurology.
Leadership and Advocacy
Dr. Fong-Isariyawongse has completed multiple national and institutional leadership programs, including the AAN Women Leading in Neurology, the Palatucci Advocacy Leadership Forum, and UPMC’s Physician Leadership Essentials and Peer Coaching programs. She chairs the UPMC Neurology Wellness Committee and supports institutional initiatives focused on physician well-being and sustainable professional performance.
Leadership Training
Dr. Fong-Isariyawongse is a graduate of the American Academy of Neurology’s Women Leading in Neurology (WLN) Program and the Palatucci Advocacy Leadership Forum (PALF), both competitive national leadership programs. At UPMC, she completed the Physician Leadership Essentials Program and the Peer Coaching Program, experiences that reflect her commitment to leadership development, mentorship, and advancing physician wellness.
Media Appearances
A sought-after expert, Dr. Fong-Isariyawongse frequently provides commentary on sleep, epilepsy, and brain health in high-profile outlets. She has appeared on the Associated Press, Fox News Radio, NPR/WESA, WPXI, WTAE, KDKA TV and Radio, and Star 100.7 FM, among others.
She has been a guest on national podcasts including Kennedy Saves the World (Fox News Radio), the Brain & Life Podcast, and Sleep is My Waking Passion.
National Publications
Her expertise has been featured widely in national and international media:
- The Wall Street Journal – Combat the Sleep Problems that Hits in Middle Age: Aging messes with our sleep sooner than we might expect.
- PBS News – Daylight saving time and early school start times cost billions in lost productivity and health care expenses
- Allure – Everything You Need to Know About Sleep Debt
- Associated Press – Is your teen sleep-deprived? These expert bedtime tips could help
- Science – Does daylight saving time make sense? Scientists debate pros and cons
- SELF – Got Insomnia? These Exercises are Proven to Help
Advocacy and Public Education
Dr. Fong-Isariyawongse is a nationally recognized advocate for brain health, sleep health, and cognitive performance. She has testified before the Pennsylvania Senate Education Committee and collaborated with state legislators to introduce bills on later school start times, seizure first aid education in K–12 schools, and permanent standard time. She represents professional societies in both state and federal advocacy, working to advance science-driven policies that promote public safety, learning, and long-term neurological well-being.
Her community outreach spans school districts, athletic organizations, first responders, and public transportation professionals, helping groups at every level understand how sleep, recovery, and cognitive readiness influence performance, learning, and safety.
Dr. Fong-Isariyawongse also serves as the neurology consultant to the Pittsburgh Steelers, applying principles of neuroscience, recovery, cognitive resilience, and circadian sleep science within the world of professional sports.
Education & Training
- Fellowship – Sleep Medicine, Cleveland Clinic
- Fellowship – Epilepsy, Cleveland Clinic
- Residency – Neurology & Preliminary Internal Medicine, Cleveland Clinic
- MD – The Ohio State University College of Medicine
- BA – Molecular & Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley
Specialized Areas of Interest
- Clinical: Epilepsy, Critical Care EEG, Quantitative EEG, Cognitive Performance Neurology, Sleep Medicine, Circadian Sleep Science
- Educational: EEG Curriculum Development; Cognitive Performance and Sleep Health Education for healthcare workers (trainees, physicians, advanced practice providers, nurses, technicians, and healthcare leadership)
- Advocacy: Brain and Sleep Health Policy, Adolescent School Start Times, Permanent Standard Times, Sports Neurology, Epilepsy Care (seizure first aid, seizure rescue medication)
