From Orthopaedics to Sports Medicine: Get to Know Dr. Vande Lune
Like many physicians in the world of sports medicine, Daniel Vande Lune, MD, grew up with a love of sports. However, long before he knew about the field of sports medicine, he decided to pursue a career in the medical field.
Called to the Medical Field
“I’ve wanted to be a physician since I was in fifth grade,” shared Dr. Vande Lune, an orthopaedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist at Sun City Orthopaedic and Hand Surgery Specialists.
That calling grew stronger as he got older. By high school, he knew he wanted to become an orthopaedic surgeon. An avid athlete, he wrestled and played soccer — until he was hit by a car during his freshman year. He underwent knee surgery as a result of the accident, and though his wrestling days came to a close, his future career was even more clear. Seeing what the doctors had done for him opened his eyes to the incredible impact orthopaedic surgeons can have on their patients. He wanted to one day have that same impact on others, and on athletes in particular.
Dr. Vande Lune went on to get his medical degree from the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine. He continued to hone his skills, completing an internship in general surgery at the Indiana University Medical Center, followed by his residency in orthopaedic surgery at the University of Missouri, Kansas City.
Embracing Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Surgery
Through his residency, Dr. Vande Lune discovered a passion for total joint replacement. Yet his love of athletics continued to pull him toward sports medicine. So he pursued a fellowship in sports medicine and arthroscopy with the University of Massachusetts.
“Sports medicine has always been my love, but I also love doing total joint replacements,” he said. “As I was finishing my fellowship, I wanted to get a job where I could be a general orthopaedist and still do both of these things.”
And he did! He went on to work in both areas and in 2016 left Iowa to join the team at Sun City Orthopaedics. Dr. Vande Lune is thrilled to be part of a team that brings together such diverse backgrounds and specializations in order to treat, or at least evaluate, the majority of orthopaedic issues. “We can take care of 95 percent of orthopaedic problems,” he said.
Putting Patients First
One of the things he appreciates most about working at Sun City is the effort they take to get patients seen as soon as possible. “We get our patients in quickly. We’ll try to get you an appointment within 24 to 48 hours if you need to get in,” explained Dr. Vande Lune.
Doctors are available each day in the clinic and strive to see as many patients as they can to evaluate them and help determine next steps for care.
For Dr. Vande Lune, this includes helping athletes get on the road to recovery so they can hopefully continue on in their sport. He specializes in arthroscopy, including ligament reconstructions and rotator cuff repairs. He also performs many total joint replacement surgeries, including knee, shoulder, and hip replacements.
When he’s not seeing patients or performing surgery, Dr. Vande Lune enjoys writing fiction, reading (particularly historical nonfiction), playing golf, and traveling. This includes visiting his five daughters and two grandsons who still reside in Iowa. Additionally, he also recently completed his MBA with an emphasis in Healthcare Management at West Texas A&M.
The next time you see Dr. Vande Lune, ask him what it was like to compete in five Ironman Triathlons or about his favorite band, Rush.
Interested in scheduling an appointment with Dr. Vande Lune? Call us at 915-581-0712.