Conversations with Donovan Smolich

Today we’d like to introduce you to Donovan Smolich.

Hi Donovan, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My journey into healing started early. As a kid, I had a breakdancing accident that temporarily left me unable to move. A chiropractor worked with me, and after one adjustment, I was able to move again. That moment stayed with me and sparked a deep curiosity about the body and its ability to heal.

Years later, in my early 20s while in chiropractic school, I went through a period of homelessness and lived out of a two-seater Miata. That time forced me to sit with myself, change my mindset, and decide who I wanted to become.

Those experiences shaped how I see healing today. I believe real change happens when the body and mind are addressed together, and my goal is to help others heal, reconnect with themselves, and discover who they’re capable of becoming.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No, it hasn’t been a smooth road. One of the biggest challenges was learning how to keep going through long periods of uncertainty, financially, emotionally, and mentally.

Going through homelessness while living in my car during school forced me to mature quickly. I was constantly exhausted, often sleeping very little, sometimes passing out in class, doing everything I could just to keep up, feel safe, and continue moving forward. At the same time, I carried the quiet weight of feeling judged and out of place among other students.

Those experiences tested me deeply, but they also built the resilience, discipline, and perspective that continue to guide how I approach life, healing, and supporting others through their own difficult chapters.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a chiropractor focused on helping people restore function, reduce pain, and reconnect with their bodies. I work with individuals dealing with complex and often overlooked issues, including nasal-specific care, TMJ pain, tailbone injuries, concussions, sciatica, and chronic pain, many of which patients are told they simply have to live with.

What I value most is helping people who feel stuck, whether physically or mentally, experience real change. My approach looks beyond symptoms and focuses on how the body, nervous system, and mindset work together. Healing isn’t just structural; it’s personal.

What sets my work apart is lived experience. I’ve been injured, I’ve struggled, and I’ve had to rebuild myself from the ground up. That perspective allows me to meet people where they are, educate them, and guide them toward discovering what their bodies are capable of when given the right support.

Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
What makes me happy is challenging myself to do what once felt impossible and helping others do the same. I find fulfillment in pushing past limits, both personally and physically, and in seeing people heal, move better, and rediscover parts of themselves they thought were lost. Watching someone reconnect with their body and realize they’re capable of more than they believed is what gives my work meaning and keeps me inspired.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Www.drdonovan.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drdonovansmolich
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Drdonovansmolich
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/drdonovan
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@drdonovan

Image Credits
The Lounge Booth photographers (the professional headshots)