Jose J. Puangco

Dr. Jose Puangco, M.D., is an innovative and forward-thinking neurologist and sleep physician at the Judy & Richard Voltmer Sleep Disorders Center. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and the American Board of Sleep Medicine and is actively affiliated with the American Academy of Neurology, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, and the California Sleep Society. Dr. Puangco previously served as Chief of Neurology, where he played a leadership role in advancing clinical care, program development, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Dr. Puangco brings a uniquely comprehensive and integrated approach to patient care, combining expertise in neurology, sleep medicine, and neurophysiology. He is fellowship-trained in Electrodiagnostic Medicine and Neurophysiology and performs EMGs. He has advanced experience in the management of headache disorders, including the administration of botulinum toxin for chronic migraine. In the context of post-stroke and neurologic recovery, he also utilizes botulinum toxin therapy for the treatment of spasticity to improve function, mobility, and quality of life. In the field of sleep medicine, he provides advanced therapies for obstructive sleep apnea, including the evaluation and longitudinal management of patients treated with hypoglossal nerve stimulation using the Inspire medical device. In addition to his outpatient practice, Dr. Puangco serves as a neurohospitalist and is an active member of the stroke team at Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach and Irvine. In this role, he manages acute neurological emergencies, including stroke and other critical neurologic conditions, while ensuring continuity of care beyond hospitalization. A distinguishing feature of Dr. Puangco’s practice is his ability to bridge inpatient and outpatient care. He focuses on identifying and treating sleep disorders in hospitalized patients to reduce readmissions and improve recovery, while also optimizing outpatient management to prevent disease progression and avoid hospitalization. By integrating sleep medicine into neurological care, he provides true end-to-end care that spans acute treatment, recovery, and long-term wellness. Dr. Puangco is also the creator of the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) program at Hoag, where he has been instrumental in providing comprehensive, multidisciplinary sleep care. His broader mission is to elevate Hoag as the gold standard in sleep medicine through a systems-based, patient-centered approach that emphasizes prevention, performance, and long-term health optimization. He received his medical degree from the University of Texas at Houston Medical School, completed his internship in Internal Medicine at the University of Southern California, and his Neurology residency at USC. He subsequently completed fellowships in Electrodiagnostic Medicine and Neurophysiology at USC and Sleep Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Beyond clinical practice, Dr. Puangco is dedicated to community education and regularly delivers lectures and seminars focused on neurological health, sleep disorders, and overall wellness.