A Long Island native, Dolce arrived at UVA in 2006 and became a three-year letterwinner on the defensive line. Known for his power and relentless effort, he was third on the team in sacks in 2009 and served as a team captain in 2010. He is still remembered for one of the most iconic plays of the era with a ferocious hit on Miami quarterback Jacory Harris that helped swing momentum in one of the program’s signature wins.

Yet the path Dolce followed after football was as remarkable as anything he did on the field. After pursuing professional football, injuries forced him to pivot, and he returned to his childhood dream of becoming a physician. He went back to school, earned a second bachelor’s degree while working full-time and raising a young family, completed research in a major hospital system, and ultimately earned his medical degree from Ross University School of Medicine.

This year, after thousands of applications and one of the most competitive interview processes in all of medicine, Dolce matched into UVA’s prestigious orthopedic surgery residency. He received the highest possible scores across every interview, a testament to his talent, character, and the passion he brings to patient care. A devoted husband and father, Dolce has built his life on resilience and hard work, whether on the field, in the operating room, or in the community he loves. Now, nearly 20 years after he first arrived in Charlottesville as a first-year student, he has returned to Grounds to begin his orthopedic residency, once again representing UVA with both pride and purpose.