Meet our Preceptors
Gina Thompson, PharmD: Medication Safety (thompsg@ah.org)
Dr. Thompson graduated with her Doctor of Pharmacy Degree from the University
of Cincinnati in 2013. She moved to California in 2020 after serving as
pharmacy director for Community Hospital in Grand Junction, Colorado.
She has been with Adventist Health since 2021 where she currently leads
as Medication Safety Officer completing ASHP’s Medication Safety
Certificate Program in 2022. She uses a Just Culture approach to medication
errors recognizing the challenges compassionate clinicians face within
a complex health system. In her spare time, she loves to share time with
her family and eat good food.
Sebastian Al-Saiegh, PharmD, BCPS: Emergency Medicine (alsaiesv@ah.org)
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: Infectious Diseases (trankq01@ah.org)
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 (jongsmrl@ah.org)
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 as well.
Stephen Huynh, PharmD, BCPS: Internal Medicine (Medical-Surgical) (huynhs1@ah.org)
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 (gutierO1@ah.org)
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 (josonj@ah.org)
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 (truonglb@ah.org)
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.
Shivani Patel, PharmD: Internal Medicine (patelsv@ah.org)
Dr. Patel graduated with her Doctor of Pharmacy from California Health
Sciences University. She completed her PGY1 Pharmacy Residency at NorthShore
University Health System in Evanston, Illinois. She also received her
teaching certificate through Rosalind Franklin University. Upon completion
of her PGY1 residency, Dr. Patel took on the position of a clinical pharmacist
on the medical/surgical unit at Adventist Health Bakersfield. Her areas
of interest include internal medicine. Outside of work, she enjoys being
outdoors, cooking/baking, and traveling.
Youssef Soliman, BS, PharmD: Operations (solimays@ah.org)
Dr. Soliman graduated with his Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from Future
University in Egypt in 2013. He started working for Adventist Health Ukiah
Valley in 2016 as a Night pharmacist. Dr. Soliman has been working for
Adventist Health Bakersfield since 2018 and became a lead pharmacist in
2021. He graduated with his Doctor of Pharmacy degree in 2022 from the
school of Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. He is
interested in improving workflow and optimizing use of technology around
the pharmacy. His current projects include ensuring compliance with the
system formulary and assisting in Omnicell optimization. Dr. Soliman enjoys
playing volleyball, riding bicycles, and making new friends.
John Obena, PharmD, MBA, BCPS: Oncology, Internal Medicine (obenaj@ah.org)
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.