Board of Directors

Dr. Khawar joined Balboa Nephrology Medical Group in 2016. He practices in the Escondido area; specializing in kidney diseases which includes hemodialysis patients and transplant patients. He has a particular passion for home dialysis methods in particular: both Home Hemodialysis and Peritoneal dialysis.  He is also a Principal Investigator for Balboa Research.

Dr. Khawar attended medical school at Glasgow University and then obtained a Masters from the John Hopkins School of Public Health.. After completing his residency at St. Mary Medical Center in Long Beach, he completed his Nephrology training at Harbor-UCLA.

Dr. Khawar also works in the medical device industry as Chief Executive Officer for a company developing a novel home hemodialysis machine. In his free time, he spends time with his family, travels and is currently learning the electric guitar.

Dr. Patel joined Balboa Nephrology Medical Group in 2007. He practices in the Sharp Metro area; specializing in kidney diseases which includes hemodialysis patients at both FMC and DaVita Dialysis units.

Dr. Patel attended medical school at Temple University School of Medicine in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he obtained his Doctor of Medicine degree. He completed both his residency and Nephrology fellowship at the University of California Irvine.

Terry Behrend is the Chief Medical Officer of Balboa Nephrology. Dr. Behrend’s clinical practice is focused on the care of patients with End Stage Renal Disease, with particular interest in using technology to drive efficiency, improve quality and provide value.

Dr. Behrend received his medical degree in 1994 from University of Michigan. He completed his nephrology training at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in 2000. In addition to being a Nephrologist, Dr. Behrend is also an Interventional Nephrologist where he performs thousands of vascular access procedures each year.

Outside of work, Dr. Behrend enjoys anything technology related, snowboarding, and college football.

Dr. Cantillep joined Balboa Nephrology Medical Group in 2018. He practices in the Fountain Valley area; specializing in kidney diseases which includes hemodialysis patients at both Fresenius and DaVita Dialysis units.

Dr. Cantillep was raised in the San Francisco Bay Area and completed his undergraduate studies at the University of California, Irvine. He attended medical school at Michigan State University, where he was a member of the Leadership in Medicine for the Underserved and Vulnerable program. He returned to sunny Southern California for residency at St. Mary Medical Center in Long Beach, CA. He then completed a year as a Chief Resident followed by a year as an attending hospitalist. He went on to Nephrology fellowship training at the University of Southern California. During his time as a fellow he performed research in bedside ultrasound and received an award for his quality improvement work.

Outside of medicine, Dr. Cantillep can often be found working on his cooking technique, exercising, or enjoying life with his wife and young daughter.

Location: Chula Vista West – New location April 7, 2025
Address: 416 Broadway, Chula Vista 91910
Phone: 619-427-1144
Fax: 619-427-1185

Dr. Amar V. Patel joined Balboa Nephrology Medical Group in 2019. He practices in the South Bay – Chula Vista area; specializing in kidney diseases including electrolyte imbalance, hypertension, and dialysis.

Dr. Patel was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Go Steelers!). He completed his undergraduate studies at New York University and obtained his medical degree from St. George’s University. He completed residency at Rochester General Hospital in Rochester, NY and his fellowship at SUNY Downstate in Brooklyn, NY. As a physician, Dr. Patel prides himself on improving patient care. He researches advancements in medicine, but also takes time to learn about challenges patients and their families face in the everyday healthcare experience. It is both the science and the human element that has drawn him to a career in nephrology.

Outside of work, Dr. Patel is quick with a joke, nimble on the dance floor, and a 3-time Fantasy Football Champion. Though, what he enjoys most is basking in the San Diego sunshine with his wife, 2-year-old son, and dog.

Location: Balboa Nephrology at the Sharp Kidney Care/ Kidney & Pancreas Transplant and Hepatobiliary Clinic
Address: 8010 Frost St # 100, San Diego, CA 92123
Phone: 858-650-5000
Fax: 858-637-4701

Dr. Faravardeh joined Balboa Nephrology Medical Group in 2014. He practices in the Sharp Metro area, specializing in kidney diseases including hemodialysis patients at both FMC and DaVita Dialysis units. Dr. Faravardeh is also a Principal Investigator for Balboa Research.

Dr. Faravardeh attended medical school at the Medical College of Wisconsin where he obtained his Doctor of Medicine degree and completed his residency. He completed his Nephrology fellowship at the University of Minnesota.

In his free time, he enjoys hiking, biking, reading history and science, and traveling.

Dr. Hebreo joined Balboa Nephrology Medical Group in 2016. He practices in the Escondido and Fallbrook area; specializing in kidney diseases which includes hemodialysis and peritoneal patients at DaVita Dialysis units.​  He is also a Principal Investigator for Balboa Research.

Dr. Hebreo attended medical school at Albert Einstein College of Medicine where he obtained his Doctor of Medicine degree. After completing his residency at the Naval Medical Center San Diego, he completed his Nephrology fellowship training at Walter Reed Army Medical Center/National Naval Medical Center in Washington DC.​

He is a big Padres fan who enjoys watching sports and movies along with spending time with his wife and two sons.

Dr. Steer joined Balboa Nephrology Medical Group in 2003. He practices in the La Jolla area; specializing in kidney diseases which includes hemodialysis patients at both FMC and DaVita Dialysis units.

Dr. Steer attended medical school at Duke University where he obtained his Doctor of Medicine degree and completed his residency. He completed his Nephrology fellowship training at the University of California San Diego.