Meet Our Preceptors
Sebastian Al-Saiegh, PharmD, BCPS, BCEMP
Emergency Medicine
Dr. Al-Saiegh graduated with his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Touro University, CA. He completed his PGY1 pharmacy residency at the University of Toledo Medical Center in Toledo, OH. Dr. Al-Saiegh has been with Adventist Health Bakersfield since 2017 and has been the emergency medicine pharmacist since 2019. Dr. Al-Saiegh earned his BCPS certification as well as a certificate in emergency medicine through ASHP; he will take the Board Certification Emergency Medicine Pharmacist exam as soon as it is offered in 2023. His clinical interests include trauma/resuscitation, advancing the role of pharmacists in the emergency department, and the use of high dose nitroglycerin in acute pulmonary edema. His current projects include treating and managing alcohol and opioid use disorder in the emergency department and improving the stroke process for patients receiving thrombolytic therapy. Outside of work, Sebastian enjoys woodworking, BBQing, and spending time outdoors.
Kevin Tran, PharmD, BCIDP
Infectious Diseases
Dr. Tran received a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics from UCLA and received a Doctor of Pharmacy Degree from UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy. He completed both his PGY1 Acute Care Residency and PGY2 Infectious Diseases Residency at Palomar Health in San Diego, California. At Adventist Health, Dr. Tran serves as co-chair of the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program. Dr. Tran has had guest faculty experience at both UCSD Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Keck Graduate Institute. He enjoys precepting PGY1 and Pharmacy Students and hopes to make Infectious Diseases exciting for all. Outside of the pharmacy, Dr. Tran enjoys playing tennis, hiking, fantasy football, attempting to cook new dishes, and being an amateur barber.
Rachael Jongsma, PharmD, BCPS
Cardiology, Internal Medicine
Dr. Jongsma graduated with her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Southern California. She completed her PGY1 pharmacy residency at Kern Medical and immediately started Kern’s first pharmacist-led ambulatory cardiology clinic, working closely with all three of Kern’s cardiologists. Dr. Jongsma now works as a clinical pharmacist on the tele/cardiology unit at Adventist Health Bakersfield and enjoys being part of the residency and teaching pharmacy students.
Stephen Huynh, PharmD, BCPS
Internal Medicine (Medical-Surgical)
Dr. Huynh graduated with his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of the Pacific. After completing his PGY1 Pharmacy Residency at San Joaquin Hospital, he moved down to Bakersfield. Dr. Huynh has been at Adventist Health Bakersfield since 2007 and spearheaded the development of the Pharmacy Clinical Program, including co-piloting our ICU clinical services. He currently manages the medical surgical unit and has developed great relationship with the nursing team and surgeons. Dr. Huynh precepts interns on their internal medicine rotation and has had the privilege of seeing many of them pursue residency programs at great institutions. On his personal time, he loves the outdoors. Dr. Huynh is an avid snowboarder and loves to share this passion with his wife and two kids. He also enjoys camping as well as hiking, and recently celebrated his biggest achievement by summiting Mt Whitney.
Oscar Gutierrez, PharmD, BCPS
Operations, Internal Medicine
Dr. Gutierrez graduated Magna Cum Laude in 2005 with his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA. Dr. Gutierrez started his career with Adventist Health Bakersfield in 2005. Since starting with Adventist Health, he has precepted hospital and internal medicine students and received Preceptor of the Year award from University of the Pacific in 2019. Dr. Gutierrez initiated the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program, Decentralized Critical Care Pharmacy services, and Multi-disciplinary Bedside Rounding at Adventist Health Bakersfield. Outside of work he enjoys spending time with his family, traveling to his children’s sporting events, and is a huge sports fan.
Jay Joson, PharmD, APh, BCPS, BCMTMS
Geriatrics, Internal Medicine
Dr. Joson graduated in 2003 with his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA, then moved to Bakersfield to continue working with Longs Drug Stores. In 2011, he completed a PGY1 residency at Kern Medical, where he served as the previous pharmacy director. An avid pharmacist, Dr. Joson was the first Board Certified Geriatric Pharmacist (BGCP; 2010) and first Board Certified Advanced Diabetes Manager (BC-ADM; 2014) pharmacist in Kern County, received Preceptor of the Year from the University of the Pacific in 2014 and his Advanced Practice Pharmacist license in 2018. Dr. Joson has also authored several papers. In his spare time, Dr. Joson does wedding photography and videography on the weekends and is a pharmacotherapy lecturer for the Nurse Practitioner program at California State University, Bakersfield. Dr. Joson started with AHBD in April of 2022 and is excited to be in a clinical role again.
Lap Truong, PharmD, BCPS
Critical Care
Dr. Lap Truong graduated from the University of Iowa in 2010. After practicing for eight years at different hospitals in Iowa and Arizona as a clinical/staff pharmacist, he decided to advance his expertise in the clinical area by doing a year of residency. He completed a pharmacy residency (PGY-1) at Kingman Regional Medical Center, Kingman, AZ in 2019. After becoming a Board Certified Pharmacotherapeutic Specialist (BCPS), he joined Adventist Health. Dr. Truong has a special interest in critical care and internal medicine with a strong passion in precepting Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE) students and pharmacy residents. Since June of 2022, he has been the critical care pharmacist at AHBD. During his free time, Dr. Truong enjoys swimming, running, practicing judo, and spending time with his family. His other hobbies are raising Koi fish and gardening.
Rajinder ("Nikky") Kaur, PharmD, BCSCP
Dr. Kaur received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the Thomas Jefferson College of Pharmacy in Philadelphia, PA. She then went on to become a pharmacy manager for Target Pharmacy before pursuing a non-traditional residency at Kern Medical, which she completed while serving as the inpatient pharmacy manager. Dr. Kaur continued that role before serving as Director of Pharmacy at Heart Hospital and landing her role at Adventist Health as the AIS Cancer Center Pharmacy manager. Dr. Kaur has extensive managerial and sterile compounding experience, holding a Board Certification in Sterile Compounding. In her spare time, Dr. Kaur loves spending time with her family, traveling, and trying new foods.
John Obena, PharmD, MBA, BCPS
Oncology, Internal Medicine
Dr. Obena graduated with his Doctor of Pharmacy degree and Masters of Business Administration from Roseman University. He completed his PGY1 at MountainView Hospital and later became part of the Adventist Health team. His areas of interest include internal medicine and hematology/oncology. Outside of work, Dr. Obena enjoys playing basketball, board games, and eating unique food.
Christen Wilson-Hernandez, CPhT
Pharmacy Technician Supervisor
Christen graduated from pharmacy technician school with an AS degree in 2011. She started at Adventist Health Bakersfield in August 2011 and has served in many areas of the pharmacy, including working as a chemotherapy technician when the AIS Cancer Center was opened. In 2021, she accepted the technician supervisor position and has led out on building a better work culture, incorporating the technicians’ ideas of what is ideal for the department. For our residency program, we are fortunate that Christen has agreed to be our wellness liaison, with an open door policy where residents can speak to her about anything, anytime. In her spare time, she enjoys time with her family and friends and traveling.