Atrium Health is proud to serve as The Health Care Provider of more than 100 schools, offering expert Team Doctors and Athletic Trainers for your school in Charlotte-Mecklenburg, Union, Cabarrus, and Lincoln counties and Fort Mill School District.
Our mission is to keep your student-athlete and our community healthy, safe and injury-free. Each month, we will be spotlighting some of our dedicated Team Doctors and Athletic Trainers and share tips and exciting news in the world of sports medicine and high school athletics.
High school athletes in the Greater Charlotte region will once again have access to free, comprehensive health screenings through Atrium Health’s “Heart of a Champion Day.”
For more information on registration and for a list of participating schools, visit the Heart of a Champion Day registration page.
Now in its 17th year, Heart of a Champion Day will be open to all rising 9th – 12th grade student-athletes attending participating schools in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg, Lincoln, Anson, Union, York, Stanly and Cabarrus County school systems. Many independent and charter schools are also invited to attend.
While standard sports physicals cover basic requirements, they often miss the more serious underlying health conditions, particularly those related to the heart.
“We focus on what the basic sports physicals may miss,” says Dr. David Price, Medical Director for Atrium Health Sports Medicine and Special Events. “A young athlete may feel perfectly fine, but we include a heart ECG screening, which may catch heart conditions that put the athletes’ safety at risk during high-intensity activity. With ECGs interpreted by our specialists, we’ve identified many athletes over the years with conditions that could have had significant consequences if left undiagnosed.”
Heart of a Champion Day isn’t just about detecting potential heart conditions. It also helps identify musculoskeletal issues, vision and blood pressure concerns, and other conditions that could impact an athlete’s performance.
Dr. Price, who also serves as a sports medicine physician at the Atrium Health Musculoskeletal Institute, says the best way to prevent an injury is to catch potential issues before they happen.
“By screening for orthopedic weaknesses or imbalances, we can help athletes avoid injuries that could potentially end their season,” he says.
What’s Included in the Free Screening?
Each student-athlete will receive a comprehensive medical evaluation, performed by sports medicine physicians, cardiologists, orthopedic specialists and other health care professionals. It is not meant to take the place of their yearly physical performed by the athlete’s regular physician. The screening includes:
- Medical history review: Assessing personal information and family health history for risk factors.
- General sports screening: Meeting North and South Carolina’s athletic participation requirements.
- Electrocardiogram (ECG): A heart screening to detect electrical activity abnormalities.
- Echocardiogram (ECHO), if needed: Additional testing if an ECG reveals concerns.
- Orthopedic screening: Evaluating musculoskeletal function to prevent injuries.
- Vision exam: Ensuring athletes have the visual clarity needed for peak performance.
- Hands-only CPR training: Teaching life-saving emergency response skills.
- Nutritional guidance: Providing expert advice from registered dieticians on fueling for performance and recovery.
- Mental health counselors: Available on-site if needed or requested by student-athlete
Heart of a Champion Day event organizers have seen great success with this event, both for the athlete’s long-term success, as well as the parent’s peace of mind.
“This isn’t just for the student’s athletic performance, but also for their overall well-being,” says Dr. Price. “These screenings provide valuable information that can help keep athletes in the game, performing at their highest level, and most importantly, staying safe.”
Event Details
Date: Saturday, May 31, 2025
Time: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Locations:
- Atrium Health Sanger Heart & Vascular Institute
1237 Harding Place, Charlotte, NC 28204 - Atrium Health Musculoskeletal Institute Orthopedics & Sports Medicine
6050 W. Highway 74, Indian Trail, NC 28079
Participation is completely free but pre-registration is required. The deadline to register is May 10th.
For more information on registration and for a list of participating schools, visit the Heart of a Champion Day registration page.
