From the ice rink to the operating room — and eventually innovation and the boardroom — Dr. Robert Stephen Mulholland has charted a path of remarkable achievement. During Great Lakes State Weekend (GLSW) at Lake Superior State University, the former LSSU hockey star turned renowned plastic surgeon and entrepreneur delivered an inspiring presentation titled Blades, Scalpel, Start-ups: An Innovation Journey.
Held at the Kenneth J. Shouldice Library, Dr. Mulholland shared his journey from his time at LSSU, where he developed the discipline and drive that would propel him to success in medicine and business. After establishing himself as a world-class plastic surgeon, he transitioned into entrepreneurship, founding two groundbreaking companies, InModeMD and BoomerangFX. Both companies, now publicly traded on NASDAQ with multi-billion-dollar market caps, are leaders in medical technology and practice management solutions.
Through compelling anecdotes, Dr. Mulholland highlighted the parallels between his experiences as a hockey player, surgeon, and CEO. He spoke about the importance of resilience, adaptability, and embracing challenges to achieve innovation and excellence.
“You only get out of college what you put in — you put in a lot, you get a lot out, and don’t underestimate how awesome you can be,” he told the audience. “Success — make it your definition, own it, don’t accept no, balance your life, and bring people in your life that will help you, ground you and secure you.” He went on to say, “Have passion around your ideas, fuel it with intelligence, accelerant, don’t say no, and bring in supports around you to make you invincible — to make you awesome.”
The presentation resonated with attendees, particularly students and aspiring entrepreneurs, who were inspired by his ability to transform challenges into opportunities. Dr. Mulholland emphasized the importance of pursuing big ideas, taking calculated risks, and always striving for impact.
Dr. Mulholland’s return to campus was a highlight of GLSW, showcasing the extraordinary impact of LSSU alumni. His journey exemplifies the vast potential of Lakers to lead, innovate, and inspire across diverse fields.
For those who missed it, a recording of Blades, Scalpel, Start-ups is available here on the LSSU LakerCast website.
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