MEET OUR team

Founder and President of BAN. 

He completed his residency at UCLA Health System.  He is dual fellowship trained in Critical Care Medicine at UMDNJ/Cooper University and a fellowship in neurocritical care at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital.  He  Board certified in Internal Medicine, Critical Care Medicine and Neurocritical Care.  He is the
past President NorCal SCCM, and
past Chief of Staff at John Muir Health Walnut Creek.  His clinical interests include management of severe stroke and critically-ill neurology patients.

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Dr. Sandeep Walia completed his undergraduate degree at UCLA followed by medical school at Georgetown University.  He completed his residency in Neurology at UC Davis and a fellowship in Neurocritical Care at Stanford.  He joined BAN in 2021.  He is the stroke Director at San Ramon Regional Medical Center.  His clinical interests include management of severe strokes and of critically-ill neurology patients.  

Dr. Courtney Takahashi joined BAN in 2023.  She is board certified in both neurocritical care and general neurology, through UCNS and ABPN respectively. She completed her medical school training at the University of Hawaii, John A. Burns School of Medicine. She completed her neurology residency and neurocritical care fellowship at Oregon Health & Sciences University (OHSU). 

Dr. Philip Ente is a neurologist with epilepsy expertise.  He practices in the Central Coast, California.  

He has previously been a Clinical Professor at UCLA School of Medicine and current Adjunct Professor at Cedars Sinai Hospital.  

Dr. Rincon is residency trained in internal medicine, neurology and triple fellowship trained in critical care, vascular neurology, and neuro-critical care.  He also obtained formal education in neuro-epidemiology at Columbia University and bioethics at the University of Pennsylvania. 

Ms. Denise Li completed her master’s and PhD in Critical Care Nursing specialty from UCSF where she was also trained and board-certified as adult gerontology acute care nurse practitioner. Ms. Li joined BAN in 2020. She helps with managing patients in the Brain Injury Program and provides neuro-nursing training to staff nurses.

Coming Soon

 Adam Rizvi is a board certified neurologist and neurointensivist. Dr. Rizvi received his residency training at the University of Minnesota and his fellowship training in Neurocritical care from Stanford University. He served as the Neuro ICU director at Carondelet St. Joseph's hospital for several years before moving to California and joining Bay Area Neurointensivists to serve the larger California community.

Sophie Nguyen completed her undergraduate and nursing degrees at California State University, East Bay and received her training as a Family Nurse Practitioner at Holy Names University. She joined BAN in 2021 and coordinated the Brain Injury Program to provide neurocritical care for brain injury patients at long-term acute facilities 

Practice Manager

Rachelle has been Practice Manager of Bay Area Neurointensivists since 2019. She started her career in healthcare 14 years ago as a Unit Coordinator for Neuro/Trauma Intensive Care Units. As Practice Manager, she is responsible for all administrative and operational aspects of the business. 

Director of Business Development

 Lashini brings 25 years of health law, healthcare administration and operational experience to help our partners evaluate business needs and structure a service model that best supports their facility.