9802 Stockdale Hwy. Ste. 103
Bakersfield, CA 93311
PH 661-663-4444 - FX 661-663-4100

Our Providers Dr. Hitesh Shah  M.D. FAAP Dr. Hitesh Shah founded Southwest Pediatrics in 1996 to create a pediatric practice that was professional, efficient, courteous, honest and accessible to pediatric patients in Kern County. Dr. Shah was born in Nairobi, Kenya but later moved to India where he did his schooling, including medical school. His first year of Pediatric residency was at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, FL he then finished two additional years at Maimonedes Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY. Dr. Hitesh Shah joined Kern Medical Center in 1990 as an Associate in Pediatrics where teaching residents was his passion. He continued until June 2002. Dr. Shah was appointed as a Clinical Assistant Professor in Pediatrics at UCLA's School of medicine. He has been a speaker for several pharmaceutical companies and lectures for continuing medical education at hospitals across the county. Dr. Hitesh Shah was elected Chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at Bakersfield Memorial Hospital from 2005 - 2006 and remains active on the Hospital Medical Education Committee. Dr. Shah is married to Alka Shah who is the office manager for Southwest Pediatrics. They live in Southwest Bakersfield and have three children. Dr. Shah is an avid follower of Politics, he enjoys watching sports (Lakers and Golf), he is also learning Indian classical music and often golfs in his free time with his friends and son. Dr. Charity Santiago   M.D. FAAP Dr. Charity O. Santiago is an associate Physician at SouthWest Pediatrics. She has been a primary care physician since 2001. Born and raised in the Philippines, she attended Fatima College of Medicine where she received her medical training and earned her pediatric residency at Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center in the Bronx, New York. Dr. Santiago is board certified by the American Academy Board of Pediatrics and a fellow member of the American Academy of Pediatrics. She is licensed to practice in the state of California. She has been with Dr. Hitesh Shah since 2003 and has found the practice vibrant, well respected and extremely fulfilling. Dr. Santiago is a very cheerful, energetic, and a compassionate person. She is well liked by her co-workers, patients, parents as well as grandparents. In her free time, she likes gardening, shopping, visiting family, and going out with friends. Dr. Alan Dakak  M.D. FAAP Dr. Alan F. Dakak is an Associate Physician at Southwest Pediatrics. He has been working as a pediatrician since 2008. Dr. Dakak was born in Lansing, Michigan and his family is from the Middle East. He graduated medical school at Drew/Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. He completed his residency training in Pediatrics at the Phoenix Children's Hospital in Arizona. After residency, Dr. Dakak joined Kern Medical Center in 2008 as an Associate in Pediatrics at the Sagebrush Pediatric Clinic and Kern Medical Center where he was a Volunteer Clinical Faculty Member at the University Of California, Irvine School of Medicine. He has also worked at the Pedi-Center Urgent Care since 2009. Dr. Dakak is a member of the 2010 Leading Physicians of the World by the International Association of Pediatricians. He was also selected as one of the America's Top Physicians by the Consumer's Research Council of America in 2010. Dr. Dakak also has a research publication in the Journal of the National Medical Association in 2006 about medical student's choice of specialty training. Dr. Dakak is board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics since October, 2008. He is licensed to practice medicine in California and Arizona. Dr. Dakak is married to his wife, Asil Dakak, who is a family nurse practitioner at the Priority Care Department at Bakersfield Family Medical Center. In his free time he enjoys reading about philosophy and spiritually, playing sports, and donating his time to community service for the underserved.