If you see Richard Davidson, MD, jump out of his seat at the next Colorado Avalanche game, it doesn’t necessarily mean the team just scored a goal. As the lead team ophthalmologist for the Denver-based hockey squad, Davidson might be headed back to the locker room to tend to a player who just took a blow to the head or a stick to the eye.
For the past six seasons, Davidson has been part of a group of providers from the University of Colorado School of Medicine who serve as official team doctors for the Avalanche. As lead for the ophthalmology specialty, Davidson sets the schedule, handles calls and appointments for the players and staff and their families between games, and is one of five CU ophthalmologists who attend home games on a rotating basis to handle urgent situations as they arise.
We talked to Davidson about his role with the Avalanche and how it felt to be part of the celebration when the team won its third Stanley Cup in June 2022.