When Atrium Health launched its free athletic screening program called Heart of a Champion Day in 2008, the goal was to ensure high school athletes could safely compete in sports.
Unlike typical athletic screenings, Heart of a Champion Day includes electrocardiograms to detect genetic heart abnormalities that could lead to sudden cardiac arrest during competition –a rare, but potentially catastrophic event.
Dr. David Price, a sports medicine physician with Atrium Health Musculoskeletal Institute and medical director of Heart of a Champion Day, was one of the event’s founders and the cause is close to his heart.
“My inspiration and passion for this stems from losing my father and his two brothers to heart attacks while they were all participating in sports,” says Price. “It really impacted me greatly, steering me into sports medicine and inspiring me to push others to be active, but making sure they were safe to do so.”
The Largest Sports Screening Event in the Region
The program has since expanded from just Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools to include the greater Charlotte region and 2023 marks the first year the program has expanded to the Triad. This year, the event in Charlotte is in partnership with the Carolina Panthers and was held at Bank of America Stadium. In the Triad, the event is being held at two locations in High Point and in Winston-Salem.
“We wanted to bring the same level of service Atrium Health has been providing their student-athletes in Charlotte to our region,” says Christopher Ina, certified athletic trainer and associate director of athletic training services at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist.
Heart of a Champion Day is the largest sports screening event in the area and it’s free to student-athletes enrolled in one of Atrium Health’s partner schools. Volunteers completed nearly 2,000 screenings throughout the day at Bank of America Stadium and 500 screenings total in High Point and Winston-Salem.
Heart of a Champion Day brings together a wide variety of Atrium Health experts, including:
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Athletic trainers
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Registered dietitians
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Performance experts
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Cardiologists
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Primary care physicians and residents
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Orthopedic and sports medicine physicians
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Registered nurses
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EMTs
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Paramedics
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Physical therapists
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Social workers
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Psychologists
Atrium Health Musculoskeletal Institute has the largest athletic training program in the nation dedicated to helping students across the Southeast. Through this program, Atrium Health has ensured athletic trainers in partner high schools can connect student-athletes to health providers if they need a physician at any time during the year.
“It was truly a team effort between a passionate cardiologist and athletic trainer to bring this event to life, by marrying cardiac screening with physical screenings,” says Price. “I was part of a similar program on a smaller scale in Florida and always had a passion for engaging with kids in the community and teaching them about staying healthy.”
What Happens During a Heart of a Champion Day Screening
“By participating in this event, we get to help the children we care about so deeply lead active and healthy lives,” says Dr. Matthew Schwartz, a pediatric cardiologist at Atrium Health Levine Children’s Congenital Heart Center. “And on the rare occasion we detect potential heart conditions, early intervention is key. Participation in this event can get them the care they need and hopefully enable them to return to the activities they love.”
Participating student-athletes receive a free multidisciplinary health screening, which includes:
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A review of their medical history
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A general sports screening for North and South Carolina
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An electrocardiogram (ECG)
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An echocardiogram (ECHO) if needed
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An orthopedic screening (musculoskeletal exam)
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A vision exam
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A mental health screening
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Access to a registered dietitian
Because electrocardiograms are part of this multidisciplinary health screening, students have access to have their ECGs read by Atrium Health’s world-class cardiologists, giving students access to the region's most elite care.
“We are excited about serving these student-athletes, particularly the underserved athletes who may not have been able to get a sports physical otherwise,” says Price. “A screening like this can be lifesaving.”
Hear from former Independence High School football player Jaylen Riley and his mother Nicole about his experience with Heart of a Champion Day.
Heart-health Tips for Student-athletes
In addition to participating in Heart of a Champion Day, Atrium Health experts recommend the following heart health tips for student-athletes:
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Get regular exercise
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Don’t smoke or vape
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Eat a variety of vegetables, fruits, lean proteins, healthy fats and whole grains
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Limit sugar, salt, processed foods, fast food and sugary drinks
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Stay hydrated, particularly when you participate in physical activity
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Listen to your body and talk to a parent, teacher, athletic trainer, coach, doctor or nurse if you don’t feel well. Red-flag symptoms include unexplained tiredness, chest pain, passing out or feeling like you’re going to pass out and shortness of breath.
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Get your annual pre-participation physical and a well-child check from a doctor who knows you best
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Know your personal and family history of health conditions, including heart problems
Protecting Athletes Who Have Had COVID-19
Heart screenings can also be beneficial for athletes who have had COVID-19.
“Athletes who’ve had COVID-19 and have been symptomatic may be at risk of developing a complication of the heart muscle called myocarditis, so they need to be evaluated from a cardiology perspective,” says Dr. Dermot Phelan, the medical director of cardiovascular imaging, director of sports cardiology and co-director of the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Center at Atrium Health Sanger Heart & Vascular Institute. “Myocarditis is a condition where the virus infiltrates the heart muscle causing inflammation and potentially scarring of the muscle. If you exercise with myocarditis, it makes the disease worse and increases your risk of sudden death, so it’s important to define whether the athlete has that.”
Sanger Heart & Vascular Institute also has a Sports Cardiology Center dedicated to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases in athletes and physically active individuals. It provides a unique blend of cutting-edge clinical care, research and education, aiming to ensure the heart health of patients while enabling them to reach their maximum athletic potential.
“I love interacting with the students and our group of volunteers,” says Price. “Seeing the way this effort has evolved over the past 15 years continues to motivate us to make each Heart of a Champion Day event the best it can be to help the community.”
Learn more about Heart of a Champion Day in the Charlotte metro area and in the Triad.
