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News Release

July 2, 2004

Contact: Maureen McGuire, 860-679-4523
e-mail: mmcguire@nso.uchc.edu

UConn Doctor Brings Home Bronze Medal

Farmington, Conn. – Robert A. Arciero, M.D., an orthopaedic sports medicine expert at the University of Connecticut Health Center came home from the 2004 International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Men’s World Championship this spring with a bronze medal and a championship jersey.

While he is an avid hockey fan, Dr. Arciero did not play on Team USA. Rather, he was the team physician, something he describes as a “great honor.” The games were held April 21 through May 9 in the Czech Republic.

“I have always felt privileged to work with UConn athletes. So, to be asked to serve on this level, with professional, elite athletes, was very special,” said Dr. Arciero, who along with other sports medicine experts from the UConn Health Center serves as a team physician for the UConn Huskies.

Dr. Arciero has expertise in all facets of sports medicine and specializes in shoulder and knee repairs. He was selected for the Team USA position from a roster of some 2,000 orthopaedists who are part of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine. Orthopaedists from this organization are chosen to be team doctors for major events for the Men’s USA Hockey Team, the Women’s USA Hockey Team, the National Junior Hockey Team, and the Olympic Games.

So yes, there is a chance Dr. Arciero could be tapped for the Winter Games in Turin, Italy in 2006.

“Being part of Team USA was a great experience,” Dr. Arciero said. “We had a top flight team of trainers and medical support staff, not to mention an amazing team of athletes, all of whom were professional, including many NHL players and NHL coach Peter Laviolette from the Carolina Hurricanes.”

“Our kids played very hard and very well,” Dr. Arciero said, noting that none of the players experienced any major injuries. “There were a few strains and lacerations and one concussion, but nothing really bad. We were pretty healthy,” he said.

Winning the bronze was only the second time in 40 years that an American team has brought a medal home from the IIHF Men’s World Championship. In fact, the bronze medal was won by a rousing victory over Slovakia in front of a stunned crowd in Prague. Other highlights included victories over the Russian and Czech Republic teams, Dr. Arciero said.

“For Team USA to win a medal in the Czech Republic, which is such a hockey-crazed country, is just a phenomenal accomplishment,” Dr. Arciero added. The gold medal went to Canada and the silver to Sweden.

Note: Dr. Arciero’s photo is available at: http://www.uchc.edu/ocomm/images/arciero_web.jpg

UConn Health includes the schools of medicine and dental medicine, the UConn Medical Group, University Dentists, and John Dempsey Hospital. Home to Bioscience Connecticut, UConn Health pursues a mission of providing outstanding health care education in an environment of exemplary patient care, research and public service. More information about UConn Health is available at www.uchc.edu.

Note: News professionals are invited to visit the UConn Health Today news page (http://today.uchc.edu) for regularly updated news and feature stories, photos and media stories. News releases are archived at http://today.uchc.edu/newsreleases/2014. UConn Health news and information is also available on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.