Balsam graduated from medical school, University of Mosul, Irak in 1993 and received her swedish license at Karolinska University Hospital in 1999. She is consultant rheumatologist in rheumatology clinic, Sahlgrenska University Hospital since 2009 with a particular interest in myositis. Her PhD research aims to improve the early diagnosis of cardiac involvement in patients with myositis and to investigate the clinical outcomes and prognosis associated with cardiac manifestations of the disease.