Our FIRST screening event is coming soon!

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#1

Cause of Student Athletes Death

1 in 300 Youth

has an undetected heart condition

Up to 23,000

are stricken annually

More than 90%

of Sudden Cardiac Arrest victims die

Why it matters

The DMV Has A Heart initiative, spearheaded by Cardiac Medical Services, Inc. (CMS), integrates efforts with Cardiac Insight and Who We Play For (WWPF) to perform annual comprehensive heart screenings for young athletes across the DMV area. This collaborative effort harnesses CMS’s expertise in advanced ECG monitoring technologies and the educational and community outreach capabilities of WWPF. The initiative aims to identify potential cardiac risks early, offering timely medical interventions to ensure the safety and health of young athletes. By preventing sudden cardiac arrest through these proactive screenings, DMV Has A Heart exemplifies a commitment to the well-being of its young community members.

Save Young Lives

Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is a leading medical cause of death in young athletes, often striking without warning. It’s crucial to understand the risk factors, signs, and preventive measures to protect lives. Learn more about how you can help prevent SCA, understand the importance of heart screenings, and see real-life examples of how early detection can save lives.

Our Mission

Our mission is to offer heart screenings for all young athletes in Washington D.C., Maryland, and Virginia, make AED accessible to all schools, and educate and train CPR.

Campaign Ambassador: Jude Maboné, Miss District of Columbia 2023

At 16, Jude Maboné faced her first heart attack, marking the beginning of her commitment to heart health advocacy. Despite enduring six heart attacks by age 18, Jude uses her experiences to drive awareness and change. As Miss District of Columbia 2023 and a Miss America contestant, she leverages her platform to destigmatize heart disease and promote life-saving measures like automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in schools.

As the Campaign Ambassador, Jude brings her compelling story and media presence to the forefront of our initiative. Her resilience and advocacy align with our mission to promote heart health and preparedness among DMV youth. Jude’s dedication to spreading awareness and inspiring action make her an invaluable representative for our campaign.

Jude is the ideal spokesperson for the DMV Has A Heart initiative, striving to protect the hearts and futures of our community’s young athletes.

Our Key Goals

01.

Screen every young athlete in Washington D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. 

AEDs accessible for all schools. 

02.

CPR training and education

03.

Bring SCA awareness 

04.

Screen every young athlete in DMV

Our primary goal is to conduct comprehensive heart screenings for local young athletes annually. These screenings are essential to detect any underlying cardiac issues, ensuring that young athletes can participate in sports with confidence and safety. By identifying potential risks early on, we can provide necessary interventions, such as medical consultations and personalized treatment plans to prevent any sudden cardiac arrest.

Empowering Schools with AEDs

Another crucial aspect of our initiative is equipping every school with Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs). By distributing these life-saving devices across educational institutions, we create a prepared and responsive environment in case of emergencies. 

Prompt access to AEDs significantly improves the chances of survival during sudden cardiac events, underscoring the importance of preparedness in safeguarding our students’ lives.

Promoting CPR Training and Education

We’re committed to offering CPR training and educational programs in the community. These initiatives empower teachers, students, and parents with life-saving skills and promote immediate and effective responses to cardiac emergencies. Turning bystanders into life-savers, we equip our community to handle cardiac events confidently.

get involved

volunteer

Our event relies on the generous support of volunteers to operate successfully. As a volunteer, you will play a crucial role in conducting these screenings.

REQUEST Screening

You wished to get your kids heart screens at your school or campus? Let’s make proactive heart health a reality for our kids!

CARDIAC INSIGHT

Cardiac Insight is an ECG medical device company headquartered in Bellevue, WA, driven by core values of excellence and integrity. Our main products, Cardea SOLO and Cardea 20/20 are ECG devices that are made for cardiac care. The SOLO offers rapid, accurate arrhythmia identification within five minutes, while the 20/20 integrates cutting-edge algorithms for fast detection of critical cardiac abnormalities, associated with Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA).

WHO WE PLAY FOR

Who We Play For(WWPF) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization founded in memory of our teammate, Rafe Maccarone, who died of SCA with us at soccer practice. Over a decade later, by bringing together the national/ international medical experts, WWPF has become the largest heart screening nonprofit in the United States, educated millions on SCA, helped to place thousands of AEDs and donated millions of dollars to 500+ schools and athletic programs across Florida and the country.

WWPF Medical Advisory Board & Team

ZEKE UPSHAW FOUNDATION

The Zeke Upshaw Foundation was launched on the sudden and devastating loss of Zena Ray “Zeke” Upshaw.  Zeke’s mother, Jewel Upshaw, wanted to keep his spirit alive by establishing a foundation which will continue carrying out his personal commitment to help the youth The crushing loss of Zeke has inspired us to raise awareness for better sports screenings and awareness surrounding CPR administration and AED use. The goal of the foundation is to educate athletes, teammates, and coaches on ways to keep the players safe by reacting quickly and properly.

Executive Committee

Lawrence Stanley

Founder and CEO

Chair of DMV Has A Heart

Sarma Singam, MD

Team Specialist

Cardiac Care & Physician Engagement

Kendall Haynesworth

Director

Strategic Engagements

Karina Lipsman

Director

Educational Outreach and Strategic Partnerships

Dana Corby

Director

Program Operations

Perri Rosen

Director

Community Mobilization and Volunteer Engagement

REQUEST Screening

If you are a campus with young athletes, fill out the form below and we will contact to schedule screening at your facility. 

Once you join the waitlist, a welcome email will be sent to the address you provided. Please check your spam folder and mark us as a safe sender to ensure you receive all important updates from us.