The Ortho Show Delivers: Inspiration And Motivation From Olympic Legend Mike Eruzione

World-renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. Scott Sigman has long had a passion for sharing orthopedic content that is educational, insightful—and remarkable. The most recent episode of The Ortho Show podcast is no exception. This episode features Mike Eruzione, an extremely well-known name in the annals of Olympic history for his role as the team captain leading the 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team to their legendary gold medal win. Sports Illustrated labeled his famed game-winning goal in the team’s game against the Soviet Union as “the greatest sports moment of the 20th century.” 

Mike Eruzione: Inspiration from the 1980s to the present 

Although Mike Eruzione’s greatest fame may be tied to his role in the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics, his story doesn’t begin or end there. In addition to his hockey excellence, Mike has served as a motivational speaker and spokesperson representing major corporations; he authored the bestseller The Making of a Miracle, which recounts the 1980 American Olympic ice hockey team’s amazing underdog tale. Mike currently serves as the Director of Special Outreach for Boston University. He is also actively involved in fundraising for the Olympic Committee and other charitable organizations. 

Family and community support 

Family and community are extremely important to Mike, who speaks with show host Dr. Scott Sigman from his home, two houses from where he grew up, in the Winthrop, MA, community he shares with his adult children and grandkids. 

Mike’s devotion to his community is illustrated by his charitable foundation, Winthrop Charities, which supports Winthrop’s kids and families. The foundation’s efforts include supporting local sports teams by donating equipment and uniforms, contributing a new fitness and weight room to the local high school, and helping local families displaced by fires and other disasters. Mike also helps run an annual charity golf tournament that helps support the Cool Kids Campaign, an organization devoted to improving quality of life for kids with cancer and their families. 

Postponing knee replacement—the patient point of view 

In this episode of The Ortho Show, Mike shares the inspiring story of how he became part of that remarkable Olympic team. He discusses the grit and determination required from every team member as they prepared for the Olympic games.  

Mike also shares his experiences beyond hockey, discussing the significant knee arthritis that eventually led to the need for a knee replacement. He shares his experience with Zilretta®, a long-acting, extended-release corticosteroid. Zilretta is used by many in the orthopedic community for the treatment of knee pain caused by osteoarthritis. Mike relates how this treatment—repeated several times—allowed him to delay his knee replacement for about 2 years, providing valuable insight into one patient’s unique experience with this orthopedic treatment path. 

Discover The Ortho Show 

Dr. Scott Sigman introduced The Ortho Show in 2020 as a powerful resource for orthopedic professionals. Since its initiation, The Ortho Show has recorded over 170 episodes with more than 150,000 downloads. It has grown to reach more than 8,000 monthly listeners. Dr. Sigman introduces his audience to select guests ranging from orthopedic surgeons to spokespersons for non-opioid options for pain management to some of the athletes who have benefited the most from orthopedic medicine. 

This podcast both educates and entertains listeners with a unique mix of expert insights and personal accounts related to the ever-changing field of orthopedics. Subscribe to The Ortho Show today and join its community of orthopedic professionals dedicated to increasing their knowledge and understanding of orthopedic medicine.