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,
3rd District
Scott Thygerson, Vice Chairman
Kern Medical Representative
Vijaykumar B. Patel, MD, Secretary
Rural PCP Representative
Sarabjeet Singh, MD
Urban PCP Representative
Timothy McGlew
Rural Hospital Representative
Olga Meave, MD
Safety Net Provider Representative
Kimberly Hoffmann, PharmD, BCPP
Pharmacist Representative
Michael T. Bowers
Community Representative,
1st District- (Photo Pending)
Ross Elliott
Community Representative,
1st District 
Cathy Abernathy
Community Representative,
2nd District
John Nilon
Community Representative,
2nd District
Jay Tamsi
Community Representative,
3rd District
Barbara Patrick
Community Representative,
4th District
Alex Garcia
Community Representative,
5th District
Michael Turnipseed
Community Representative,
5th District
Governing Board Agendas
Next Meeting:
Regular Board of Directors Meeting
Thursday, April 13, 2023
Closed Session: 8:00 a.m.
Open Session: 8:15 a.m.
Board of Directors Meeting Packet
Kern Health Systems
2900 Buck Owens Boulevard
Bakersfield, CA 93308
Board meeting agenda will be posted according to The Brown Act requirements*.
Past Agendas
Please note: Kern Health Systems Board of Directors meetings and the Kern Health Systems Finance Committee meetings will occur every other month.