Programs & Services

• AED Program
  (Automated External Defibrillator)
• CARE CHANNEL
  (Continuous Ambient Relaxation Environment Channel)
• Healthcare Scholarship Program for Cardiovascular Study
• Online Gift Kiosk

Heart of a Champion Teen Athlete Screening Program

Heart of a Champion© is an innovative teen athlete screening program, targeting high school athletes in New Mexico. Through this program teen athletes in football, soccer, track and basketball, ages 15–18 may be screened for Hypertropic Cardiomyopathy (HCM). This is the leading cause of sudden cardiac death in young people, affecting approximately one in 500. These young athletes fall victim to HCM, due to stress on the heart during strenuous activity. While HCM does not present strong symptoms it may easily be diagnosed with an echocardiogram (ECHO) a non-invasive picture of the heart.

The Heart Hospital of New Mexico Foundation is able to bring this program to the New Mexico communities through the cooperative efforts and generosity of the New Mexico Heart Institute. We will be holding several screening events a year, and participating schools and or athletic groups will be taken on a first come first serve basis. The screening is free but we are requesting a $15 donation per student screened for applicable taxes, if the student is financially able. Please check our Special Events page on this website for possible upcoming screening dates. There is a fact sheet, program available for downloading below.

If you would like to have more information about this program, or if you would like to make a contribution to this program, please contact us at:
505-440-8799 or email Heart of a Champion.

Heart of a Champion© FACT SHEET

• Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a genetic heart disease resulting in a thickening of the heart muscle. This condition can often lead to obstruction of blood flow and an erratic heart beat. Undetected, HCM can lead to sudden death.
• Sports are particularly dangerous to youth athletes with HCM due to the strenuous activity and stress on the heart. Young athletes represent the majority of fatalities from the disease, and it is the leading cause of death for student athletes.
• The prevalence of this disease is 1 out of every 500 people.
• Many people experience no symptoms from the disease. Some may experience shortness of breath, chest pain, heart palpitations and light-headedness or blackouts.
• HCM may be detected through an echocardiogram (picture of the heart). This test normally ranges between $500 - $1000. Heart of a Champion© screening is offered for no charge in order to screen all student athletes—including those without insurance.
• In 1996 the American Heart Association released guidelines recommending pre-participation screenings of young athletes. Years later many high schools and colleges have not adequately addressed these guidelines.
• Heart of a Champion© attempts to screen all the athletes age 15–18 in New Mexico participating in football, basketball, track and soccer (both boys and girls.)
• Screenings typically take approximately five minutes per student.
• Volunteer cardiologists from New Mexico Heart Institute donate their time.
• The Heart Hospital of New Mexico Foundation started the Heart of a Champion© Student Athlete Heart Screening program in partnership with the New Mexico Heart Institute
• Since 2001, a similar program has screened over 2,944 student athletes for HCM, found 49 students who needed more detailed heart evaluations, and found 18 students whose screening suggested the presence of HCM.