CU Athletics Director of Sports Medicine Dr. Eric McCarty Named President of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine
July 30, 2025 | General, Sports Medicine
Longtime member of the CU sports medicine team will serve as president of the prestigious sports medicine organization for 2025-26
The American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) has named Dr. Eric McCarty as their president for an upcoming one-year term after being installed during the AOSSM 2025 Annual Meeting held recently in Nashville.Â
Dr. McCarty's illustrious career at the University of Colorado Boulder began as a player where he was a first-team All-Big Eight linebacker his senior year before graduating in 1988 with a 3.75 GPA in kinesiology. He is the first player in CU history to be named Academic All-Big Eight four times and earned his M.D. with honors in 1993 from the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Denver. He has been a member of the CU Athletics sports medicine department since 2003. In addition to his work with the Buffs, he serves as medical director and head team physician of the NHL's Colorado Avalanche.  Â
"It's an incredible honor and full-circle moment to serve as President of AOSSM," said Dr. McCarty. "As a former CU linebacker and proud graduate, the lessons I learned on the field and in the classroom continue to shape me. Now, as team physician for my alma mater, I'm privileged to give back to today's athletes and represent the thousands of orthopedic sports medicine physicians across North America who care for athletes at every level—from pee wee to the pros, and all the way to the Olympics."
Dr. McCarty's specialized practice involves the care of collegiate and professional athletes as well as recreational and highly competitive athletes from the community and the Rocky Mountain area. The practice is located on the second floor of the UCHealth Champions Center in the CU Sports Medicine and Performance Center. Â
He has been a member of AOSSM since 1999 and has held multiple leadership positions before ascending to the presidency position, including Treasurer for the Board of Directors and chairman of the Council of Delegates. Dr. McCarty is a prolific researcher with over 300 scientific publications. He is a past recipient of numerous awards including the AOSSM Cabaud Memorial Award, Herodicus Award and O'Donoghue Sports Injury Award, among others. Additionally, he received the prestigious Kappa Delta Award from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons in 2012, 2019, and a third in 2024 as one of the Multicenter Orthopaedic Outcomes Network (MOON) Shoulder Group researchers.
The AOSSM is the premier global sports medicine organization representing the interests of 4,200 orthopaedic surgeons and other professionals who provide comprehensive health services for the care of athletes and active people of all ages and levels. AOSSM is committed to cultivating evidence-based knowledge, providing extensive educational programming, and promoting emerging research that advances the science and practice of sports medicine. AOSSM is also a founding partner of the STOP Sports Injuries campaign to prevent overuse and traumatic injuries in kids.