Byline: Shia Kapos

Membership on a hospital or affiliated charity board has its privileges: The difficult-to-come-by seats allow not only elbow-rubbing with top executives, but also informal access to medical specialists.

Why make a pesky appointment when you can inquire about your blood pressure or tennis elbow over cocktails instead?

"It's a selfish reason, but I think that's why so many people want to be on the boards,'' says Kip Kirkpatrick, president of the Rush Associates Board of Rush University Medical Center, which promised plenty of one-on-one time with doctors during Saturday's fundraising gala at the Cadillac Club at Soldier Field. "With the focus on ...