“I love my job and I love my patients,” says Puja Vithalani, M.D. “It’s a very rewarding field.” Puja works as a Family Medicine Physician at Kaiser Permanente. During the course of her day, she can see a 2-year-old, teenagers, adults, and even a 102-year-old. It gives her variety and keeps her on her toes. Best of all, she doesn’t have to do surgery.  

 

“I could never stand in the same place for hours,” she laughs. However, her husband, Sauhang Patel, M.D., enjoys surgery as an OB/GYN at Kaiser Permanente. “He really loves being in the operating room doing procedures that can take him hours.” 

 

Interestingly, Sauhang always wanted to be an engineer focusing on body mechanics. However, while he was in school, he was exposed more to medicine, and he grew to appreciate how similar engineering and medicine were. He has always been fascinated by how the body works and how all the bodily functions work in harmony, and figuring out what went wrong when it doesn’t. 

 

“He likes the mix of medicine and surgery, as well as seeing patients in the clinic. Pregnancy has always been fascinating for him, and it never ceases to amaze him how impactful it can be on the lives of individuals,” adds Puja. 

 

They say that love happens when you least expect it, which was certainly the case for Puja. “I met him while I was working on my OB/GYN rotation at Kern Medical Center; go figure!” she smiles. “Turns out he was friends with my coworker, and we hit it off.” It was toward the end of her first year of residency.  

 

Sauhang was doing his OB/GYN residency in Long Island, New York, and was visiting in April 2012. “After we met, we had a long-distance relationship for 3 years.” When they were both in their final year of their residencies, they got engaged and had to decide where they were going to live.  

 

“Bakersfield was our top option as we had family friends here and I had always wanted to work in an underserved community,” says Puja. Sauhang interviewed with San Dimas Medical Group while Puja interviewed with Kaiser Permanente. After getting married in August 2014, they started their jobs in September 2014 and their life together. 

 

Balancing two careers, they supported each other as they established themselves in the community. It was a lot of work, but it was worth it. Best of all, they found a great group of friends who had also decided to settle in Bakersfield. 

 

“We had friends in the residency program, but then we met more people our age in the community,” says Puja. “Within two years, our friend group exploded. Everyone was in the same life stage.” People’s families started coming together, and their children found friends as well. “When we get together, there are over 40 people,” shares Puja. It’s where they can find community and connection.  

 

Puja and Sauhang have two sons. Their first son was born in April 2018 and is a first grader at Highgate Elementary. “I had my second son in November 2020. I found out I was pregnant the weekend of the lockdown,” says Puja. She kept working, however. “I was an essential healthcare worker, so I put on my mask and went to work.” Now their son is attending Valley Montessori Academy, but will be attending Highgate in the fall as well.  

 

Their sons now fill their days with energy and laughter. From soccer practices to swimming lessons, the couple juggles busy schedules while ensuring that weekends are reserved for family time and community gatherings.  

 

“We make the most of our schedules, visiting family on the weekends and having a close-knit circle of friends to lean on,” Puja notes. She couldn’t be more thankful for their friends, who have become family.  

 

Three years ago, Sauhang also joined her at Kaiser Permanente. “We now work for the same group, which is great! Sometimes we even have mutual patients,” says Puja.   

 

Their neighborhood in Belcourt Seven Oaks, which they moved into in 2018, is home sweet home. “We moved here when my son was 4 months old and ended up building our dream home with Allison Brandt Oliver, one of the builders here in town,” says Puja. “She was amazing, and I recommend her to everyone. My husband had a vision, and she took it and made it a reality.” 

 

Belcourt Seven Oaks is a place of community. With a beautiful park just a short walk away, families gather for picnics, soccer games, and seasonal festivities. “Everyone is really friendly when you drive or walk around,” Puja remarks. They also like all the activities for their sons that are organized by the Clubhouse, including music in the park, cookie decorating, pumpkin carving, and holiday celebrations. 

 

To relax, Puja enjoys psychological thrillers, listening to audiobooks during her gym sessions. “People think I am listening to music, but I’m not,” she laughs. She’s catching up on her latest audiobook. An avid reader, she read 130 books last year and seeks to read more this year. She’s also in an informal book club with other moms, which is lots of fun. “All the husbands think we are just chatting,” she laughs. But Puja always brings questions to each book club, inspiring stimulating conversations. 

 

Sauhang’s passions are almost a polar opposite of Puja’s. While you will never catch her running, you may see him out for an easy run of only 10 miles. He also enjoys playing video games. “He’s using it as an excuse and says he is practicing his hand-eye coordination for when he operates,” laughs Puja.  

 

They both like to stay physically active as an example to their children and the patients they care for. “We both believe in practicing what we preach. If we are going to ask our patients to take time to exercise and eat well, then we will be doing the same as well.”  

 

If you see Puja and Sauhang out and about, be sure to say hello! These two dedicated physicians are excited to meet more friendly folks here in Seven Oaks. They have built a life filled with love, family, and community support. It doesn’t get any better than that!