Keys AHEC Health Centers to Offer Free Heart Screenings for Student Athletes Across the Florida Keys

No-cost ECG screenings and sports physicals available to all students new to high school sports for the 2026/2027 school year

MARATHON, Fla., April 2026 — This spring, Keys AHEC Health Centers will bring life-saving cardiac screenings directly to high school campuses throughout the Florida Keys, offering no cost electrocardiogram (ECG) tests and sports physicals to student athletes. The program, launching on May 18, 2026, is designed to identify undetected heart conditions in young athletes before they take the field  and it comes at a critical time.

Sudden cardiac arrest is one of the leading causes of death in young athletes, yet many underlying heart conditions show no outward symptoms. An ECG, a simple, painless test that records the heart's electrical activity, can detect conditions that might otherwise go unnoticed until it is too late. Through this program, Keys AHEC is bringing that technology directly to students where they are, making it easier than ever for families to take this important step.
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"We want every student athlete in the Keys to have the opportunity to be screened before they compete," said Michael Cunningham, Keys AHEC CEO. "This program removes the barriers, cost, distance, time so that no family has to wonder whether their child is healthy enough to play."

The program is open to all students who are new to high school sports for the 2026/2027 academic year. Screenings will be held on-site at three Florida Keys high schools:
 
Marathon High School
May 18 – 22
2026

Coral Shores High School
June 1 – 5
2026

Key West High School
June 8 – 12
2026

 
All screenings are conducted by appointment only. Families are encouraged to call the Keys AHEC main clinic line at 305-743-7111, extension 210, to schedule their student's appointment at the school site nearest to their home campus.

Each screening takes approximately 15-30 minutes conducted by qualified AHEC clinical staff on-site. ECG results are reviewed by a Pediatric Cardiologist, with results confirmed. Students with a normal ECG result will receive sign-off from an AHEC Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN). Results that require additional evaluation will be referred to Nicklaus Children's Hospital for specialist review, and cardiology referrals will be arranged for any student with an abnormal finding.

"Catching a heart problem early can be the difference between life and death for a young athlete," said Cunningham.
 
Participating students must be established AHEC patients. Families new to AHEC will be guided through a simple registration process. Required patient forms, including a sports physical form, must be completed before the appointment. Forms are available at keysahec.org/ecg-sports-physical-program. Students who already have a current sports physical on file will only need the ECG portion of the screening.

This initiative is supported by Florida Statute §1006.20 (Second Chance Act), which took effect July 1, 2026, and is part of a statewide commitment to student athlete health and safety. Additional resources are available at whoweplayfor.org and fhsaa.com.
 
Schedule Your Student's Free Screening Today
Call: 305-743-7111, Extension 210
Forms & Information: keysahec.org/ecg-sports-physical-program