When humankind was going through the darkest times and the world was shrinking, a group of dedicated and fierce, first-line female physicians connected with a purpose: a purpose of supporting each other and finding solutions to the toughest challenge of the time through shared knowledge and awareness. 

 

Meet the women physicians of Kern County-- a dynamic, multi-specialty group of accomplished professionals dedicated to healing, leadership, and community. 

 

This remarkable cluster started as a handful of female physicians during the COVID times, mainly for providing support and sharing relevant and ever emerging medical information. Today this group has grown organically to more than 120+ female physicians residing and practicing medicine in Kern County. These female physicians are not only practicing medicine, but many of them hold positions of authority in their respective organizations, many are entrepreneurs, and others hone their skills outside medicine. Many are also mentors and leaders contributing to all walks of society, making Kern County a better place to reside. As these ladies with stethoscopes embody a blend of compassion, professionalism and family centered devotion, they face their own challenges of finding work life balance.  

  

Forming this group helps to bring all women physicians of Kern under one platform. It started with the idea to develop a support system and camaraderie among the women physicians, who share similar challenges and privileges. It aims to foster a sense of community among women in medicine, providing a platform for collaboration, mentorship, advocacy, professional development and personal support. 

 

The group facilitates networking opportunities, provides team building activities and emotional support as well as philanthropy. 

 

As the group grew, a working committee was formed consisting of Dr. Srilakshmi Madhusudhan, Dr. Shweta Agarwal, Dr. Sudha Reddy, Dr. Komal Desai, and Dr. Tilllaikarasi Kannapan to organize the group and plan periodic group activities.  

 

With the above goals in mind, the initial group gathering was organized at Seven Oaks Country Club in May of 2024, where 50 plus women physicians were in attendance. It was surreal to see these bright beautiful faces meeting their fellow professionals and sharing light moments of joy and laughter. Many of these women met for the first time even though they might have known each other’s names through mutual patient care for several years.  

 

Thereafter they met again at a private yoga retreat led by Dr. Sonia Ghai, an Ob-Gyn by profession and yoga instructor by passion, hosted by Dr. Zeba Yamin, where the group of health enthusiasts stretched together. 

 

Recently the group organized a picnic to commemorate International Women’s Day at Dr. Komal Desai’s JSK Farms celebrating Bakersfield’s best kept secret of beautiful almond blossoms. It was a perfect sunny afternoon with a light breeze and flower petals falling like snow covering the ground. It was a wonderful group of friends catching up and having a fun time. The magic of these moments was artfully captured by our very own talented photographer Preeti Reddy, locking the memories forever. 

 

Dr. Parameshwari Baladandapani, radiologist and the founder of Generational Wealth MD & GW Capital, invited two very special guests to add to the afternoon. 

 

The first was Ruhi aka Rohini Hak, founder of the non-profit organization Hope B Lit. The second was Trupti Bhoir, an Oscar-listed producer, writer, director and actress, as well as the founder of the non-profit Shelter Foundation. They met the group and did a presentation about their short film “Paro” bringing awareness to the issue of bridal slavery, gender-based violence, human trafficking, female infanticide, and the systemic abuse of underprivileged social groups. They also urged the women physicians to join their upcoming medical mission to provide much needed healthcare services to the tribal women in India. The physicians echoed their unwavering support for the cause, stressing the need for global action to combat these atrocities and ensure these women's voices are heard. 

 

Thereafter, many of the group members participated together in the 8th Bakersfield Marathon/ 10k/6k run promoting health and wellbeing amongst fellow physicians. 

 

The group continues to plan these activities on a regular basis, fostering sisterhoods and adding more service activities with the goal of bettering the community.  

 

These phenomenal women live amongst you, they serve you, and they are “you.” I am sure you have crossed paths with at least one of these multitasking hustlers.  

 

If you are a woman physician and want to connect with the pack, reach out to any of our members and they can get you plugged in. If you are a group or an individual with similar interests and would like to grow together, feel free to reach out to any of our resourceful teammates and we shall connect. 

 

It’s only through the challenges that we grow. A seed would not be a tree if it did not crack its shell!