Robert Balk, MD, MACP, MCCM, FCCP, FAARC, will serve as university marshal at Rush University’s 54th Commencement Ceremony. Balk will lead the procession of faculty, graduating students and the president’s party.
Balk grew up in Saint Louis, Missouri, where he received his bachelor's degree in biology and Medical 's degree. He completed his Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Fellowship in Little Rock, Arkansas, then joined the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine at Rush University Medical Center in 1985. Balk retired in February of this year — committing more than 40 years of service to Rush.
“The environment at Rush is very nurturing. It’s a friendly environment with good people who collaborate well. You have great patients here – they’re loyal, respectful and appreciate the impact physicians have on their life. And great students of all types,” Balk says. “If you’re happy with where you’re at, why not stay? So, I did.”
Q&A with Robert Balk
What led you to Rush University Medical Center?
The mentor who trained me in Little Rock, Dr. Roger Bone, came up to Chicago and Rush to be the chair of medicine around 1984. He invited me to join the team in pulmonary and critical care medicine at Rush in 1985.
Is there a memory you have of Rush that encapsulates the experience you had here?
There are so many great memories of working with people at Rush. We had a tremendous team of professionals who collaborated and worked through the COVID-19 pandemic. We didn’t succumb or become overwhelmed. We dealt with it and I think we dealt with it pretty effectively.
You stayed at Rush for the entirety of your career until you retired. What were some of the reasons you stayed?
The environment at Rush is very nurturing. It’s a friendly, supportive environment with good people who collaborate well. You also have great patients here – they’re loyal, respectful and appreciate the impact physicians have on their life. In addition there are great students of all types at Rush. We have training programs not only in medicine but across health care, including nursing and respiratory care. Some of the physician assistants and advanced practice nurses also interact with us. We have a great nursing staff that works collaboratively with us in the intensive care units and other activities. All of that combined makes for a great environment and one you can’t find everywhere. If you’re happy with where you’re at, why not stay? So, I did. Plus, I had my wife who said “our kids are here and I’m not leaving.”
How have you been spending the first couple of months of retirement?
I’m still adjusting. It’s still novel enough that I am doing different things every day and I’m not into any kind of rut or any type of activity. We have three daughters all in town, all married, two who have kids. So that’s one thing I didn’t know [about retirement], somehow you become an automatic babysitter because you don’t have anything else on your schedule, right?
How does it feel to be named university marshal?
It’s a terrific honor. My alma mater medical school asked me to give the commencement address in 1998, so I did that once. But this is even a little bit more significant. It’s a much bigger program and certainly graduation here is all sorts of health professionals. Truly, this is a big honor.
What is one piece of advice you would share with graduates?
Be confident in yourself and always think. I’m concerned we have too much reliance on AI and what’s on social media. Don’t let that influence your opinions and be confident in what you think and know. Do not back down when you know the correct action to take.
