Simon’s Fund is a nonprofit organization dedicated to education, advocacy and innovation to protect children from sudden cardiac arrest and death. Gwinnett Medical Group is composed of multi-specialty physician practices employed by Gwinnett Health System.
Together, these two organizations have screened nearly 500 student athletes over the past three years at no cost.
“According to the Cleveland Clinic, sudden cardiac death kills 1 in 100,000 to 1 in 300,000 athletes under age 35, more often males,” said Salil Patel, MD, cardiologist with Gwinnett Medical Group, Gwinnett Medical Center. “Each year during the screenings, we find athletes who are potentially at risk and require additional consults.”
All student athletes in the north Atlanta area are invited for the complimentary screenings; however, there are limited appointments available. To register, visit www.simonsfund.org. The screenings will take place at:
When: Sunday, April 26, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: CardioVascular Group
755 Walther Road
Lawrenceville, Georgia 30045
During the screenings, each student will have blood pressure checked, height and weight taken, and an ECG exam. If necessary, students will also receive an echocardiogram. The exam will take about 20 minutes.
While the testing is important from a physical perspective, it also provides peace of mind. “Since athletes in our community have been impacted by sudden cardiac arrest, it’s incredibly helpful to have them screened, not only from a physical perspective but mental, too,” said Adam Shunk, sports performance psychologist at Gwinnett Medical Center. “It’s important for an athlete to eliminate mental concerns especially for those with any family history of heart disease.”
About Gwinnett Medical Center
Gwinnett Medical Center is a nationally-recognized, not-for-profit healthcare network with acute-care hospitals in Lawrenceville and Duluth. In 2014, Gwinnett Medical Center was recognized by Georgia Trend as the top large hospital in the state. Offering cardiovascular, orthopedic and neuroscience specialty care as well as a full continuum of wellness services, GMC’s 4,800 associates and 800 affiliated physicians serve more than 400,000 patients annually. To learn more about how GMC is transforming healthcare, visit gwinnettmedicalcenter.org or follow us at facebook.com/gwinnettmedical, twitter.com/gwinnettmedical or youtube.com/gwinnettmedical.
