Kern Health Systems, the County Health Authority, is an independent public agency that governs Kern Family Health Care. The Board of Directors are appointed by the Kern County Board of Supervisors and includes major healthcare stakeholders, such as physicians, safety-net providers, hospitals, pharmacies and community representatives. Board meetings are held bi-monthly in: February, April, June, August, October and December, and are open to the public*.
Governing Board Members
Kristen Beall Watson, EdD, Chairman
Community Representative,
5th District
Scott Thygerson, Vice Chairman
Kern Medical Representative
Vijaykumar B. Patel, MD, Secretary
Rural PCP Representative
Elsa Martinez, Treasurer
Community Representative,
1st District
Sarabjeet Singh, MD
Urban PCP Representative
Timothy McGlew
Rural Hospital Representative
Olga Meave, MD (Photo pending)
Safety Net Provider Representative
Kimberly Hoffmann, PharmD, BCPP
Pharmacist Representative
Michael T. Bowers
Community Representative,
1st District- Cathy Abernathy (photo pending)
Community Representative,
2nd District 
John Nilon
Community Representative,
2nd District
Jeff Flores
Community Representative,
3rd District
Barbara Patrick
Community Representative,
4th District
Wayne L. Deats, Jr.
Community Representative,
4th District
Alex Garcia
Community Representative,
5th District
Governing Board Agendas
Next Meeting:
Regular Board of Directors Meeting
Thursday, October 13, 2022
Closed Session: 8:00 a.m.
Open Session: 8:15 a.m.
Board of Directors Meeting Packet for Thursday, August 11, 2022
Notice of Virtual Board Meeting for Thursday, August 11, 2022
Kern Health Systems
2900 Buck Owens Boulevard
Bakersfield, CA 93308
Board meeting agenda will be posted according to The Brown Act requirements*.
*Note: Kern Health Systems (KHS) hereby provides notice that as a result of the declared federal, state, and local emergencies due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and in light of the Governor’s order, the KHS Board meeting will not be physically open to the public.
Past Agendas
Please note: Kern Health Systems Board of Directors meetings and the Kern Health Systems Finance Committee meetings will occur every other month.