We recently had the remarkable pleasure of speaking with Dr. Dan Ivankovich, a Chicago bluesman and not-your-average doctor who, to put it mildly, is one of the most extraordinary people we’ve had the pleasure of meeting and writing about. We were informed of an effort to nominate Dr. Dan for a CNN Heroes 2011 award, which we were happy to be a part of. Part of the American Blues Scene’s mission is to further charity and genuine goodness that can so often be found within the blues community, and Dr. Dan is the living embodiment of that commission.
Despite Chicago’s status as a world-class city, it continues to be among the most segregated. Many residents suffer Third World health conditions, with significantly decreased wellness and shortened life expectancy. Of the fifteen most impoverished communities in the United States, Chicago is (unfortunately) home to half of them.
Dan is a Chicago orthopedic surgeon specializing in traumatology, joint replacement, and spinal disorders. He is well known for his efforts on behalf of the underserved in Chicago’s inner city. He leads The Bone Squad, a group of surgeons, podiatrists and physiatrists who believe that quality healthcare is a fundamental human right. He also founded the OnePatient-Global Health Initiative, a national and international humanitarian organization.
In 2010, Dan was named a Chicagoan of the Year by Chicago Magazine, Citizen of the Year for Chicago and the State of Illinois by the National Association of Social Workers (NASW). He is also the lead guitarist for the Chicago Blues All-Stars.
Every year, Dan and his team see over 15,000 patient visits and perform approximately 1,000 surgical procedures on uninsured and underserved patients, those who have long been forgotten by mainstream medicine. For reference, most doctors do as many as three hundred surgical procedures per year. Learn more by visiting his websites:
Read about Dr. Dan on the American Blues Scene
http://www.bonesquad.com/
http://www.onepatient.org/
http://www.chicagobluesallstars.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Ivankovich
If you’ve felt moved by Dr. Dan’s work, please visit the CNN Heroes nomination form and tell CNN in your own words about your personal experience with Dan, even if that is something as simple as hearing about his work and being moved by his mission. If you need assistance filling out the form, don’t hesitate to e-mail us. One of the fields requires Dr. Dan’s e-mail address, which is drdan [at] bonesquad.com. Another field asks for an address. Use “Chicago, Illiinois 60610”
Together, we can make this happen for a man who truly deserves this honor, and has already done much to further the blues.
