For Margaret Bavis, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, Rush University System for Health is a place that has shaped her family, career and life, beginning long before she joined the faculty.
“Rush has always been in my blood,” she said. “I was born at Rush. I have always gone to Rush. I work at Rush. I gave birth at Rush. Rush is so omnipresent for me — I feel comfortable here.”
Bavis’ connection started with her parents, both health care professionals who met and built their careers at Rush University Medical Center. Her mother, Mildred Perlia, MSN, RN, was a faculty member who earned her degrees at what was then known as Presbyterian Hospital School of Nursing. Her father, Charles Perlia, MD, was a renowned physician and faculty member who served as the director of oncology in Rush’s Department of Internal Medicine, devoting his career to cancer treatment and research. The two met as colleagues at the hospital, bonding over their shared dedication to patient care.
Rush was more than a place of work for Bavis’ family; it was a close-knit community of professionals who became friends and shared the values of providing compassionate care and excellence. The family’s commitment to Rush is also demonstrated by Mildred’s philanthropic support. She has made gifts supporting the advancement of nursing science and patient care initiatives since 1980. In recognition of her generosity, Mildred is a member of the Anchor Cross Society and Golden Lamp Society.
“It’s a legacy of commitment,” Bavis said. “My mother always took pride in being a Rush nurse and in supporting the institution that meant so much to her.”
Finding her own path at Rush
Bavis’ initial interest was psychology, which led her to work on the psychiatric unit at Rush University Medical Center. She quickly came to see nursing as a perfect blend of psychology and medical care. Seeking to pursue an advanced degree, Bavis made the easy decision to stay at Rush — one of only two schools nationwide to offer a clinical doctorate in nursing at the time.
“Nursing is a holistic way to approach patients,” she said. “It’s patient-centric and deeply focused on understanding the whole person. I knew I could get an excellent foundation here and continue on in the graduate program.”
Today, Bavis is an assistant professor in the Department of Community, Systems and Mental Health Nursing, a clinical educator and a member of the Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Nurses Alumni Association.
“It says something about an organization when people want to find their own joy in it,” she said. “I was familiar with Rush from my family, but I found my own joy and growth here, my own unique path.”
A commitment to health equity and education
Bavis’ work extends beyond her faculty role through an academic practice partnership between Rush and CommunityHealth, where she mentors nurse practitioner students while treating patients on Chicago’s West Side.
“It’s been an amazing experience,” Bavis said. “The program has expanded, reaching more students and allowing us to provide high-quality care to diverse patient populations.”
Her work is closely aligned with Rush’s mission to create a future for health care without boundaries by making the highest-quality care and health sciences education more accessible, convenient and affordable for all. In addition, her work as an educator is helping prepare future generations of skilled, compassionate health care professionals.
“Rush’s mission of health equity is a core part of why I stay,” she said. “My students get firsthand experience, learning about the social factors that affect health and seeing the importance of treating every patient with dignity and respect.”
As an educator, Bavis values Rush’s “practitioner-teacher” model, which integrates high-level nursing science with clinical expertise. She frequently encourages her students to see the bigger picture, preparing them for immediate challenges and future advancements in nursing.
“I always felt like my professors were truly expert clinicians,” she said. “They weren’t just teaching from a book; they were sharing real experiences and knowledge that came directly from patient care. That has always inspired me. We are training the nurse practitioners of tomorrow. We’re thinking about what they’ll need to know 10 or 20 years down the line.”
As she looks to the future, Bavis hopes to see Rush continue to expand its community health partnerships and strengthen its position as a leader in nursing education.
Her lifelong ties to Rush, both personal and professional, continue to deepen as she teaches, practices and mentors. As Rush continues to evolve, she is part of a new generation passing down the foundational values that first inspired her parents.
