Free sports physicals, school partnerships help local students start the year ready

Before a student takes the field, walks into class or starts thinking about a future job, AdventHealth is already part of the picture.

The health system works with local schools on sports physicals, backpack drives, athletic training support, wellness programs and career exploration.

The goal is not just to help students get ready for school. It is to address barriers early, before they interfere with learning, health or long-term success.

“Building healthy communities starts long before someone needs a hospital,” said Erik Nason, director of strategic partnership operations for AdventHealth East Florida Division. “When we make care easier to access and partner with our schools, we’re helping students stay healthy, stay engaged and be ready for the opportunities that shape their future.”

The work is informed in part by AdventHealth’s Community Health Needs Assessment, which identifies the region’s top health priorities through research with local health departments, area organizations and other partners.

Improving access to care is a regional priority identified through that process. Free sports physicals each spring are a practical example of that work, giving families a more convenient way to get students checked before practices and school activities begin.

This year, more than 3,000 students in Flagler, Lake and Volusia counties received free physicals at AdventHealth events, supported by more than 450 physicians, nurses, athletic trainers and team members who volunteered their time.

“I think what AdventHealth is doing is wonderful,” said Ashley DeRazza of Sorrento, who brought her children who attend school at Mount Dora High School and Round Lake Charter for sports physicals in Lake County. “Our kids need the opportunity to make sure they’re healthy and ready to participate in sports during the coming school year. This is a great service to families.”

In Flagler and Volusia counties, about 83% of participating students also received electrocardiogram screenings, or ECGs, which check the heart’s electrical activity for signs that may need further evaluation.

Overall, the screenings identified 22 students who required follow-up care, including three who needed immediate medical attention.

Matanzas High School basketball player Jamel Guerrero was among those whose annual physical detected a rare heart condition last year. Guerrero underwent successful heart surgery before returning to the basketball court.

“These screenings are about more than clearing a student for the season,” Nason said. “They can give families peace of mind, and in some cases, they can catch something that needs attention right away.”

AdventHealth’s partnerships with area schools extend beyond sports.

Before students return to the classroom, team members in the East Florida Division also donate backpacks and school supplies to help families prepare for the year ahead. In Marion County, that work includes support for the Community Foundation’s Ready for Success initiative, which awarded more than $67,000 to four organizations helping prepare students for the school year.

AdventHealth also funds nutrition programs, mental health efforts and career exploration. One example is AdventHealth’s Step Into the Future Career Experience, which gives middle and high school students a closer look at health care careers through simulation labs and hands-on learning. Last year, nearly 1,000 students took part, and the program is scheduled to return Sept. 14-16 at ONE DAYTONA.

AdventHealth also invests in students who choose to pursue careers in healthcare and provides full-ride scholarships to AdventHealth University, helping students continue their education while building the region’s future healthcare workforce.

“Students do not always picture themselves in healthcare until someone shows them the range of what is possible,” said Truleigh Sargent, workforce development specialist for the AdventHealth East Florida Division. “Sometimes that first exposure is what opens the door.”

These efforts reflect AdventHealth’s mission as a not-for-profit health system and its commitment to reinvesting in programs that support local health and well-being.

“It takes an entire community to help our schools reach their true potential,” said LaShakia Moore, Superintendent of Flagler Schools. “We are fortunate to have partners like AdventHealth who care about our students, faculty, and staff. Whether it’s supporting student-athletes, helping families get ready for the school year, or introducing students to future career opportunities, they’re there when it matters. Those partnerships help remove obstacles for students and remind them they have an entire network of support behind them.”