Robert Pollack, MD – 50th Reunion Essay

Robert Pollack, MD

11010 Via Tuscany Lane, Ste #102

Miromar Lakes, FL 33913

bobthebear22@gmail.com

321-229-9750

Spouse(s): Pamela Pollack (1984)

Child(ren): Jessie Pollack Gulden (1985)

Grandchild(ren): Maddie Grace Gulden (2004); Layla Quinn Gulden (2017)

Education: Yale University, BS 1969. Downstate Medical Center, State University of New York, MD 1973. University of Florida, School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Residency and Chief Residency, 1977.

Career: 46 years of practicing as a Board-Certified Psychiatrist. Focus on Treatment Resistant Depressions; utilizing Genomics to treatment accuracy, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, Theta Burst Stimulation and Ketamine Infusions. Currently working in Translational Genomic Research Institute with focus on PTSD and related illnesses.

Avocations: Much time devoted to caring for first responders such as military, firefighters, and law enforcement. Enjoy fine wines and enjoy being a grandfather.

College: Davenport

In September 1965, approximately 1,000 young men gathered in New Haven, Connecticut. In its midst were over 400 class presidents, over 400 team captains, various prize winners, and folks with collections of amazing personal talents. This group was to be deemed the Class of 1969 at Yale University, and one of which I will always be proud to have been a member. After the first week together, we were assured that we all had one thing in common: we all believed that every other student in our class was smarter than us. Perhaps it was this belief that united us or it was soon to be one of the few things we all agreed upon. We were a diverse group of free thinkers destined to make an impact on many thousands of people in the future.

Growth as an individual begins with exposing a person to various ideas, facts, and notions in a way that forms both a solid basis for thought as well as a thirst to grow more. These seeds were planted in us all and took root in many directions. I was exposed to the authors of textbooks, developers of new ideas, and philosophies of great thinkers. I felt a seed of interest growing, but was not quite sure as to what it would look like when it blossomed. Nevertheless, when graduation came around I was ready to move on. I knew my world would be based on serving humanity, I just wasn’t quite sure how.

Medical school helped give my purpose form and post-graduate training gave me the rudimentary skills. Interaction with patients showed me the goals, and I thought I was ready to go. What I did not expect was meeting Pam, my wife. She was a charming southern woman whose world was based on kindness and acceptance of people as they are. She broadened my view of the world and filled it with happiness, companionship, and our child, Jessie. Jessie is a blend of us both and makes my presence shine when I know that my legacy is in her and her gracious and hard-working life. There were many ups and downs but I was on track to serve.

As my experience grew and technology marched on, it became clear that I could best serve my patients by providing them compassion while utilizing the newest of science and technology. In doing so, I was better able to lead them out of their caves of depression and despair and to help them live their lives with happiness and goals achieved. Today I still practice psychiatry using genomic testing, ketamine infusions, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and theta burst stimulation (TBS). Add this to treating patients as fellow God’s children and I can now say that my life is truly to serve those suffering. I owe these achievements to my family, what Mother Yale did for me and the role God played in my life. Lux et veritas.