Eric J. Olson, MD

Eric Olson was born in New Haven, CT, but grew up in Wilmington, Delaware. After graduating from The Tatnall School, he attended Princeton University on a four-year Army ROTC scholarship. There he studied biology, graduating Magna Cum Laude and earning the Superior Cadet award in his class. He attended Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, gaining his MD degree in 1984. There he met and married his classmate Dr. Beatriz R. Olson. They went to the University of Pittsburgh for seven years of graduate medical education. Dr. Olson served as a house officer for two years of General Surgery and then performed a year of orthopaedic laboratory research, including investigations into artificial ligament biocompatabilty and spine biomechanics. He completed three years of orthopaedic residency followed by a year of sports medicine fellowship with Drs. Freddie Fu and Chris Harner.

After completing his training, Dr. Olson served in the US Army for four years as chief of Sports Medicine at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, in Washington, D.C. He was deployed to Haiti for six months during 1994-1995 with the 28th Combat Support Hospital.

Dr. Olson joined Waterbury Orthopaedic Associates in 1995. His interests have evolved to include shoulder, knee and hip arthroscopy and replacement surgery. He has introduced new surgical techniques to the Waterbury region including arthroscopic rotator cuff repair in 1999 and reverse total shoulder replacements in 2009. Dr. Olson is active in the Arthroscopy Association of North America and the New England Shoulder and Elbow Society. He was named a “Top Doc” by Connecticut Magazine in 2003, 2007 and 2009-2017.

He and his wife have shared interest in finding ways that traditional western medicine and complementary techniques can work together to enhance a person’s well-being. Dr. Olson has volunteered as team physician for the Naugatuck High School football team since 1995.

Dr. Olson enjoys flying and is an instrument rated pilot. His favorite sports include frisbee, tennis, skiing, kiteboarding, body surfing and walking. Beatriz and he live in Middlebury and have two daughters in college.