By day, Dr. Ben Debelak is a local orthopedic surgeon specializing in knees and shoulders. 

By night, he’s one of Middle Tennessee’s most in-demand stand-up comics — “Dr. Ben,” a clean, relatable performer whose rise has been so rapid that he was voted Nashville’s Funniest Comic for 2025. 

It’s an unlikely pairing, but for Dr. Ben, comedy and medicine share more overlap than people might expect. He’s performed sold-out shows at Nashville comedy clubs like Zanies and other area venues, such as Fellowship Coffee House in White House and Willie Mae’s BBQ in Springfield.

His first real step onto the stage didn’t happen until the summer of 2023 — and it wasn’t at a comedy club. It was at a medical staff meeting at Skyline Medical Center. Known around the hospital for delivering one-liner dad jokes in the hallways, Dr. Ben was asked by the chief of staff to perform stand-up. Terrified doesn’t begin to describe it. 

“I was having a panic attack,” he recalls. “It went well, though, and they asked me to come back. Then, other hospitals in the area asked me to come perform at their staff meetings.” 

One such hospital, NorthCrest Medical Center in Springfield, brought in Dr. Ben for a comedy set at its employee awards banquet.

Encouraged to try an open mic, Dr. Ben took the leap at The East Room in East Nashville. Someone recorded the set on an iPhone and sent it to Third Coast Comedy Club. The response was immediate. He was booked on a show that sold out — then another in the main room that sold out again. With momentum building, he reached out to Zanies. That show sold out, too. Eight Zanies headlining shows later, with a ninth on the way, his rise has been anything but typical.

Since then, demand has only increased. He has upcoming performances in Springfield, Gallatin, and Hendersonville, and regularly headlines comedy clubs across the Nashville area (visit drbencomedy.com for a complete list of upcoming shows). Beyond clubs, Dr. Ben has found a strong niche performing at medical conferences and corporate events — from a 2,000-person crowd at the Music City Convention Center to upcoming appearances at the JW Marriott Orlando and the Gaylord Texan in Dallas, the latter drawing 5,000 attendees. 

“Anywhere there’s a microphone, I’ll do it,” he says. “It’s progressed a lot quicker than I thought it would, and I feel very blessed. Even the famous comics you see, it took them years of grinding before they started headlining sold-out shows. We'll see where it goes.”

Dr. Ben moved to Middle Tennessee just before the pandemic, relocating to the Nashville area at the end of 2019 from Asheville, North Carolina. Originally from Michigan, his journey included medical training and years of practice in his home state, followed by time in North Carolina before an opportunity in Nashville — and better schooling options for his family — made the move feel right. He’s married with one daughter, and while his wife is his biggest cheerleader, his daughter, he jokes, is “indifferent at best.”

Medicine came first, and it came with commitment. Dr. Ben has been practicing for 15 years, a path that included four years of undergraduate work at Central Michigan, four years of medical school in Erie, Pennsylvania, five years of orthopedic surgery residency at Michigan State, and an additional fellowship year in sports medicine at the Hughston Clinic in Georgia. 

“Ten years later,” he quips, “you can say, ‘Let’s just start operating on people.’”

Though comedy wasn’t part of the plan, humor always was. 

Adopted from Korea as an infant and raised in Michigan, Dr. Ben grew up enjoying the role of class clown, making people laugh without ever imagining it as a profession. Comics like Jerry Seinfeld left an impression early — particularly the ability to make everyday life funny without relying on shock value. That admiration for clean comedy continues today, with Dr. Ben citing fellow Tennesseans Nate Bargatze and Leanne Morgan as modern examples of comics who have reached national prominence without profanity or controversy.

“I think it takes a lot of extra work and thought to be a clean comedian,” Dr. Ben says. “You can take ordinary, mundane daily occurrences and connect with the audience without the use of profanity and vulgar language.”

His comedy style is largely observational — everyday life, family, being Asian, and the shared experiences that those in attendance can identify with. Medical jokes appear, especially at conferences, but never in a way that alienates non-medical listeners. To wit:

My next patient wanted to do his own anesthesia, so I told him, “Go ahead; knock yourself out.”

Did you know there’s a guy in the ER who swallowed a bag of Scrabble tiles? His next trip to the bathroom could spell disaster. 

“Writing jokes,” he explains, “is a process of experimentation. Ideas get logged in my phone, refined over time, tested on stage, and reworked if they don’t land. Bombing happens — even to the greats — but I view the silence as an opportunity, not failure.”

Despite the success, Dr. Ben isn’t walking away from medicine. Comedy has become a meaningful side income, but surgery remains central to his identity. While he could envision scaling back and touring more someday, he has no plans to give up orthopedic surgery entirely.

“I feel like people are more receptive to a surgeon trying comedy than a comedian trying surgery,” he jokes. 

Later this spring, he’ll expand his reach with a new podcast, Dr. Ben and Friends. The show will blend comedy with heartfelt storytelling, spotlighting unsung healthcare heroes — from environmental services staff to cafeteria workers to fellow physicians — all through a humorous lens. Episodes are already being recorded, with plans for release across YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other platforms.

Balancing two demanding worlds isn’t easy, but the schedule works: surgery by day, comedy by night. Humor, he believes, even makes him a better doctor. He often weaves lighthearted moments into patient interactions, easing anxiety before procedures and building trust.

“I think having a good sense of humor is helpful in your bedside manner and patients appreciate that,” he says. “It relaxes them and helps alleviate some of the stress and tension of surgery.”  

For now, Dr. Ben is enjoying the ride: the adrenaline of the stage, the satisfaction of helping patients, and the rare opportunity to thrive in two worlds at once. Nashville has taken notice — and judging by the sold-out shows and growing buzz, this is only the beginning.

As he puts it in his own unique, humorous way, laughter may be the best medicine — “unless you’re treating bowel or bladder incontinence.”

In addition to the drbencomedy.com website, you can also follow Dr. Ben on Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and X at @drbencomedy.