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
Ross Elliott, Treasurer
Community Representative,
1st District
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
Alex Alva
Community Representative,
2nd District
Russell Johnson
Community Representative,
2nd District
Jay Tamsi
Community Representative,
3rd District
Ganesh Acharya
Community Representative,
4th District
Albert Ma, MD
Community Representative,
5th District
Michael Turnipseed
Community Representative,
5th District
Governing Board Agendas
Next Meeting:
KHS Board of Directors Meeting
Thursday, June 19, 2025
Closed Session: 8:00 a.m.
Open Session: 8:15 a.m.
1st Floor Boardroom
KHS Board of Director Meeting Packet for June 19
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.