SAN DIEGO, Calif., June 3, 2022— Balboa Nephrology, a leader in kidney care since 1973, appointed Bijal Patel, MD as President of Balboa Nephrology. Dr. Patel brings a wealth of leadership experience and a passion for kidney care and education. A seasoned healthcare professional, Dr. Patel will succeed Dr. Dylan Steer. From January 2015 to December 2021, Dr. Steer served as President, and in January 2022, Dr. Steer became the President of the new Balboa Value Based Care division. Dr. Patel and Dr. Ramin Berenji had been serving as Co-Interim Presidents of Balboa Nephrology.
Dr. Patel joined Balboa Nephrology Medical Group in 2007. He practices at Sharp Memorial Hospital where Balboa runs the Sharp Kidney Pancreas Transplant Center. Through the practice of medicine, Bijal Patel, MD strives to give patients the best opportunity to live well with kidney disease. By educating patients, addressing barriers of care, and identifying social determinants of health, Dr. Patel achieves high rates of home modalities and living donor transplantation. He oversees one of the largest home dialysis programs in the country and recently opened the Home Training Center of San Diego, the nation’s first stand-alone Transitional Care Unit and Home Program which will bring transplant evaluations into the center and focus on optimizing a patient’s quality of life.
Dr. Patel serves as Chief of Nephrology for Sharp Rees-Stealy and current Chairman of the Board for Balboa Nephrology and has been selected by peers as San Diego’s Top Doctor in the field of Nephrology for the past 8 years. Dr. Patel is a staunch advocate for elevating the patient and physician experience.
“Our board of directors is excited to bring a leader of Dr. Patel’s caliber to lead Balboa Nephrology,” said Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Terry Behrend. “Bijal possesses the qualifications and expertise to grow the Balboa family into an even greater, more successful, organization and to create a lasting impact with better patient outcomes.”
In his new role as President of Balboa Nephrology, he hopes to “care for the people who care for people.” Dr. Patel believes optimal kidney care includes early CKD education, improved processes to overcome barriers, and creating shared value relationships.
“My mission is to help develop an organization where our physicians and staff find their voice and are encouraged to grow and advance their career through mentorship and leadership. My vision is for every member of the Balboa family to feel proud of who they are, what they do for our community, and why they chose Balboa as part of their life.”
About Balboa NEPHROLOGY
Balboa Nephrology was founded in 1973 in San Diego and has grown to be recognized as a national leader in quality and outcomes-oriented care. A recipient of the Renal Physicians Association Exemplary Practice Award, Balboa Nephrology currently employs 54 physicians and advanced practitioners in an integrated model of care. Balboa Nephrology currently provides care to 6,000 patients with end-stage kidney disease in both dialysis and transplant programs. Balboa Nephrology was a top performer in the recently concluded CMMI CEC/ESCO program, and its patients experienced significant improvements in meaningful outcomes.
