Team Spotlight:
Toniann Riselvato, MS, PA-C
Emergency Care Partners (ECP) and Progressive Emergency Physicians (PEP) are proud to recognize Toniann Riselvato, MS, PA-C, for her dedication to patient care and clinical excellence. At Good Samaritan University Hospital in West Islip, New York, she has built a career rooted in emergency medicine, collaboration, and a patient-centered approach to care. Her experience spanning emergency medicine and care coordination allows her to effectively navigate patient needs while fostering strong communication among multidisciplinary teams. Through her work in observation medicine, Riselvato helps ensure patients receive coordinated care that supports both quality outcomes and an exceptional patient experience.
Experience in Emergency Medicine
Toniann Riselvato, MS, PA-C, is an accomplished Physician Assistant with a foundation in both hospital operations and emergency medicine. She earned her Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies from Touro College of Health Sciences and is board-certified by the NCCPA. Additionally, she holds advanced life support certifications in ACLS, BLS, and PALS. Riselvato is passionate about patient education, preventative care, and mentoring fellow clinicians.
She currently practices at Good Samaritan University Hospital, where she provides care primarily within the observation unit. Her responsibilities include conducting patient evaluations, interpreting diagnostic results, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to develop treatment plans, and managing patients requiring ongoing monitoring and coordinated care.
Prior to becoming a Physician Assistant, Toniann spent five years as an Interventional Radiology and Vascular Coordinator within the Good Samaritan Hospital system. In that role, she managed procedure scheduling, ensured regulatory compliance, and helped patients navigate their care. Her background in hospital operations allows her to keep care organized and focused on the patient.
Interview with Toniann Riselvato
Q: When did you decide to become a clinician?
I’ve always known that I wanted to work in healthcare in some capacity. After graduating from St. Joseph’s College with a degree in Biology, I was still exploring which path was right for me. I began my career as a clerk and later became a coordinator at Good Samaritan Hospital. During that time, the COVID-19 pandemic changed everything. While I couldn’t assist clinically, I helped manage the hospital’s COVID supply unit, working alongside an incredible team to deliver PPE and essential resources to frontline healthcare workers. Watching the dedication, resilience, and compassion of those around me was truly inspiring. One person in particular—a Physician Assistant in the ICU, made a lasting impact on me. Seeing the difference, they made in patients’ lives and the critical role they played on the healthcare team during such trying times solidified what I wanted for my own future. I knew I wanted to be on the front lines of patient care, making a direct impact when people needed it most. It was during that challenging time that I decided to become a Physician Assistant, and I haven’t looked back since.
Q: What is your favorite part about working with PEP and ECP?
I truly love working with PEP. Every day, I have the opportunity to work alongside some of the kindest, most intelligent, and genuinely supportive people. They are individuals I look up to and want to continue to learn from. PEP has created a culture that feels like family, and that sense of support is something I deeply value. Being able to come to work each day- enjoying what I do and who I get to experience it with is truly something special.
Q: What do you find most exciting about your job?
One of the things I love most about emergency medicine is that no two days are ever the same. You never know who will walk through the doors or what challenges you’ll face. I find it incredibly rewarding to be there for patients during some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives. Knowing that I can provide comfort, support, and care when people need it most is something I will never take for granted. I love that each day is an opportunity to learn something new.
Q: What do you like to do outside of work?
Outside of medicine, I am a dance teacher, which has been an incredibly fulfilling part of my life. I love teaching and watching my students grow, both as dancers and as individuals. I also love spending time with my family and my dogs. But most importantly- I love to shop (keeping the Amazon drivers employed)
Q: What is one thing you wish more people understood about emergency medicine?
I wish more people understood how much teamwork goes into caring for every patient. From EVS and registration staff to nursing assistants, nurses, PAs, physicians, and countless others, every member of the emergency department plays a vital role. Emergency medicine is truly a team effort. What many people don’t see is that healthcare workers often set aside their own personal challenges so they can be fully present for the patients and families who need them most.
Q: What has been the most meaningful moment in your medical career so far?
There have been many meaningful moments throughout my career thus far, but one that stands out happened outside of medicine. One of my longtime dance students recently became a medical assistant and is participating in a BOCES healthcare program. She shared with me that I inspired her to pursue a career in healthcare and that she hopes to follow a path like mine. Knowing that I’ve been able to make an impact both as a clinician and as a teacher is an honor that I will always carry with me. These kids are the future of healthcare, and if I can make a positive impact on even one of them, it reminds me why I chose his profession in the first place.
Q: What advice would you give to a new clinician entering the field?
The biggest piece of advice I can give is to give yourself grace. When I first started in the ER, I felt pressure to be perfect and feared making mistakes. Over the past 2 years, I learned that medicine is a lifelong journey of learning and growth. No one has all the answers, and every day presents new opportunities to learn. Be patient with yourself, stay humble, ask questions, and embrace every experience as a chance to become a better clinician.
About Progressive Emergency Physicians (PEP):
Progressive Emergency Physicians (PEP) is an emergency medicine physician group headquartered in New York, with regional operations extending into Vermont. PEP manages emergency department services for five hospitals in the Northeast, utilizing a physician-ownership model designed to optimize clinical operations and maintain a high standard of emergent patient care.
About Emergency Care Partners (ECP):
Headquartered in Pensacola, Florida, ECP is the largest single specialty provider of emergency medicine in the United States. With client partners in Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, and Vermont, ECP currently treats more than 1,700,000 patient visits annually at 66 sites of service. ECP supports a clinical workforce of 1000+ physicians and mid-level providers. The company employs a differentiated model relative to other platforms in the industry, highlighted by the ability to maintain ownership through its physician partnership model with regional/local groups to maintain their brand and clinical autonomy while benefitting from ECP’s resources.
For more information, please visit www.ecp.net.