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had Travers, MD, says the influence on his medical career goes back to the day he was born. Dr. Travers spent a lot of time around his best friend’s dad — Ronald Klutman, MD — who happened to be not only his physician, but also the doctor who delivered him. “He cared for my whole family, and I have a lot of respect for him,” says Dr. Travers, who grew up in Columbus. Dr. Travers says he planned to follow in Dr. Klutman’s footsteps by pursuing family practice while attending the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine in Omaha, but he was drawn to cardiology during his residency at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. As a cardiologist at Bryan Heart, Dr. Travers specializes in
echocardiography, or advanced imaging of the heart, and nuclear medicine. He says he’s excited that at Bryan he’s able to treat his patients using some of the newest and best technology available. “Some of this technology is usually only available in university hospital settings, and for a community hospital to have it, that’s a big deal,” he says. HAS NEBRASKA ROOTS Dr. Travers and his brother spent their early years like a lot of kids in Nebraska: detasseling corn and shingling roofs in the summers, and playing sports year-round. Their dad was a physical education teacher at the middle school, and mom worked at Nebraska Public Power District. Dr. Travers met his wife, Carolyn, through a mutual friend during his residency in Chicago. Carolyn — who is a dentist in Lincoln — grew up near Chicago. When they considered where they wanted to raise a family, Nebraska rose to the top of the list. The couple has four children — Audrey (6), Lucas (4), Amelia (2) and their newest addition in March, Tessa. The Travers enjoy traveling and make regular trips to Chicago to visit Carolyn’s parents. The kids have fun playing sports and love spending time with the family’s 8-yearold chocolate lab, Cooper. Like many of his Bryan Heart colleagues, Dr. Travers travels to see patients in smaller communities. He says his visits to Columbus are especially meaningful, and developing those relationships with patients has been extremely rewarding. “I’ve even seen some of my older teachers as patients,” he says. “It’s rewarding when you’re caring for people who taught you, and now you’re able to help keep them going.” n
Cardiologist Chad Travers, MD, and Carolyn Travers, DDS, have four children — Lucas (left), Amelia, baby Tessa and Audrey — and Cooper, the chocolate lab.
To learn how you can support the work of Bryan Heart, contact the Bryan Foundation at 402-481-8605. To watch a related video, go to VIDEO bryanhealth.org/DrBalwanz.
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