Our Providers
Here at the Bakersfield Pediatrics office, you will find all of our providers highly qualified to assist you and your children in all of your health care needs. As your children’s pediatrician office, we are committed to providing education, assurance, and quality of care for your family. With over 85 years of combined experience, we strive to meet all of your health care expectations.
Dr. Javier Bustamante
Dr. Bustamante was born and raised in Peru and attended Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia in Lima, Peru. After graduating he moved to the U.S. to start his internship at Texas Tech University which he completed in 1980. He then moved to Sacramento to start his residency at the University of California Davis Medical Center, which he completed in 1985. Dr. Bustamante then began working at Clinicians Medical Group in 1985. After leaving Clinicians, Dr. Bustamante decided to open his own practice, in which he did in 1992. Dr. Bustamante is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and is also associated with California Medical Association, Kern County Medical Society, and the Quality Assurance Committee of Mercy Hospital. Dr. Bustamante is married, has two children and enjoys photography & traveling in his free time.
Languages: English and Spanish
Dr. Elsa Lavadia
Dr. Lavadia was born and raised in the Phillipines. She received her BS in Microbiology in 1983 and her Doctor of Medicine degree in 1987 from the University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Phillipines. Dr. Lavadia then moved to the United States and eventually owned her own practice in Bakersfield for ten years from 2007-2017. Prior to owning her own practice she worked for Dr. Javier Bustamante from 2004-2007 and has now returned to working for Dr. Bustamante/Bakersfield Pediatrics, where we gladly welcome her back.
Languages: English and Tagalog
Dr. Padmaja Kankar
Dr. Padmaja was born and raised in South India. In 1993, she received her medical degree from SV Medical College and has been working in medicine since 2007. Dr. Padmaja has been living in Bakersfield, California for the past 13 years and previously resided in San Fernando Valley, California. Apart from her work, Dr. Padmaja enjoys cooking and watching movies with her husband and daughter. She is passionate about providing the best possible care for children, so they can have bright futures as adults. Her favorite aspect of being a doctor is the satisfaction of seeing children feel better under her care.
Languages: English & Telugu
Kristen Van Scharrel, CPNP
Kristen was born and raised in Mora, Minnesota. She received her BA in nursing at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota in 2008 and her Masters in Nursing at the University of Alabama-Birmingham in 2013. Kristen is a member of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners and has worked in several other locations in Minnesota and Oklahoma. Kristen is married to her wonderful husband Eric and together they have three beautiful children. She enjoys running, reading and shopping in her free time.
Languages: English
Misty Whitbey, FNP-C
Misty has lived in several states including Oregon, Texas and Florida but she was born and raised in Bakersfield. She has been working in medicine as a nurse since 2008. In 2017, she graduated from Eastern Kentucky University and started working as a Nurse Practitioner. She loves to travel and anything Disney related. One of her favorite things is going to the beach with her husband and combined family of seven children. Misty found her pediatrics passion from being a school nurse as well as through her love for her large family. Her favorite part of being a pediatric provider is helping her patients feel better, solving problems, and feeling part of the family. Her biggest advice to new parents is to trust your gut and to not be afraid to ask questions.
Languages: English
Jaspinderjit Kaur, FNP-C
Jaspinderjit, or Jas, was born and raised in India. She moved to the United States in 2003 and to Bakersfield in 2004. She worked as an RN at Mercy Southwest Hospital for over five years. She obtained her Master of Science in Nursing and Family Nurse Practitioner from CSU Bakersfield in 2021 and joined Bakersfield Pediatrics after graduating. Jas enjoys cooking, baking, and playing a harmonium. She also enjoys traveling with her two wonderful children and husband in her free time. She has always been passionate about working with children. Jas loves how she makes a difference every day by helping families grow healthy and strong. Her biggest piece of advice for new parents is to enjoy each stage of their child's development and not forget their scheduled appointments.
Languages: English, Punjabi, Hindi
Lauren Allen, PA-C
Lauren grew up in Whitman, Massachusetts, a town about 20 miles south of Boston. She studied at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and has been working in medicine since 2013. Shortly after graduating she moved to Bakersfield with her husband. Lauren has two amazing children and a pet Yorkie named Copley. She has always known she wanted to work with children and she enjoys being able to give consistent care to patients and families. Lauren finds the most rewarding part of being a pediatric provider is watching her patients grow from newborns to thriving adults.
Languages: English
Aubrey Jorgensen, FNP-C
Aubrey was born in Lancaster, California but spent most of her childhood in the small mountain community of Glennville, California. She's been a Bakersfield resident for over a decade now, and has worked as a Registered Nurse in various local hospitals, before starting her job at Bakersfield Pediatrics as a Family Nurse Practitioner in 2022. When she's not working, Aubrey can usually be found with her family - her husband, daughter, son, black lab named Groot, and black cat named Momo.She also enjoys reading, hiking, organizing, and gardening in her spare time. She is passionate about pediatrics, providing holistic care to her patients and building connections with them. For new parents, Aubrey's advice is to cherish the time with your children as they grow up fast. Parenthood is made up of long days and short years, so hug, talk, read, and be silly with your children as much as possible.
Languages: English
