Surgeon and Blues musician brings holistic care to Chicago’s communities

CHICAGO — Healing comes in many forms.

The Chicago’s Blues Doctor does it both with a scalpel and slide guitar. 

There is nothing demure about orthopedic bone surgeon Dr. Dan Ivanovich. From his towering 6’8 frame, all black scrubs to the skull bone piercings lining his head.

Dr. Dan is the leader of the bone squad in every way.

“I like to fix broken stuff,” he said.

On stage, he becomes another kind of surgeon, sliding fingers along the scarred electric guitar and playing keys that heal the soul. 

“I have a very deep connection with Chicago because of the people I mean…it’s just a wonderful meting pot. I mean, it’s where I came from,” he said.

He says he has seen way too many Chicagoans suffer because of the street they live on.

 “Roseland, Inglewood, Austin, North Lawndale, Humbolt Park … I mean these are the communities that generationally have been forgotten and left behind,” he said. “And in many instances when we arrived there were no specialists that did what I did.”

What he did was not turn anyone away.

“We never turn a patient away. So we take care of anyone, everyone,” he said. “Whether you’re a gunshot victim, or whether you fall or whether you have insurance or not lie where ever you show up, you matter just as much.”

Fifteen years ago, Dr. Dan and his wife, Dr. Karla founded OnePatient Global Health, an initiative dedicated to Chicago and Illinois’ underserved communities. 

As a psychologist, Dr. Karla works the mind and spirit while Dr. Dan works the bones, giving each patient full integrated care.

Not only has this duo treated countless patients, but they are big on educating and training other up-and-coming medical students. And they have one rule: That they commit to take on at least one pro bono patient on their caseload at all times.