Media Highlights
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2017
October 16, 2017
Young Hearts for Life checks students’ hearts at DGS
Electrocardiograms (EKG’s) will be given to every student who signed up for the cardiac screenings, and YH4L specially trained cardiologists will be present to interpret the results.
September 14, 2017
Hinsdale Central EKG screening alerts family to teen’s heart condition
Sam was one of as many as 10 Hinsdale Central students who had abnormal EKGs. The screenings were offered to all students thanks to three entities: a foundation called just1mike, the Young Hearts For Life foundation and Advocate Medical Group.
September 7,2017
Teen’s death inspires free heart screenings at Hinsdale Central HS
A mother’s loss inspired a potentially life-saving event for students at a suburban school. (ABC News Video)
June 2, 2017
Young Hearts For Life – saving lives since 2006
Chris Storm’s Young Hearts For Life screening led to a diagnosis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a potentially fatal heart condition.
April 6, 2017
Health Systems Management students give back through partnership with Young Hearts for Life
In one of this year’s Health Care Marketing classes at Loyola University, junior and seniors have partnered with Young Hearts for Life (YH4L), a group offering free electrocardiograms (ECGs) to high school students in the Chicagoland area. Instead of volunteering with YH4L though, HSM students will be developing a new marketing and communications plan for the organization.
March 26, 2017
Joliet Catholic Academy to bring cardiac screenings to all students
In April, hundreds of Joliet Catholic Academy students will have electrocardiogram tests on their hearts. The simple, noninvasive EKGs are designed to catch cardiac electrical abnormalities that can cause sudden death. A special thank you to Team Podz for sponsoring this event.
February 2, 2017
Students, teachers, and volunteers get involved in the Young Hearts for Life heart screenings
Students and volunteers participated in the Young Hearts for Life heart screening program during all gym classes. 76 percent of the student population had screenings at Metea High School.
2016
September 6, 2016
Free Heart Screenings Headed to OPRF
After a student from OPRF went into cardiac arrest, his parents made it their mission to have the students at OPRF be screened for conditions associated with sudden cardiac death.
July 15,2016
To Screen or Not to Screen – That is the debate!
The media is full of medical debates and one of those you may have heard is “to screen or not to screen ” That has been the debate for years. Dr Marek is one of the authors of an exceptional editorial written for the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
2015
Heart Screenings to Prevent Another Young Adult from Dying
August 20, 2015
Kind Hearts Help Others To Be Screened
Free heart screenings for East Aurora High School students in memory of Dan Podczerwinski, known as Podz to his many friends, who died Memorial Day, 2013, of cardiomyopathy. “If this screening at East High saves just one life,” said Sue, Dan’s mom, “All of this will have been worth it.”
August 10, 2015
Press Release:
YH4L Receives 2015 Best of Oakbrook Terrace Award
“Each year, the Oakbrook Terrace Award Program identifies companies that we believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and our community. These exceptional companies help make the Oakbrook Terrace area a great place to live, work and play.”
June 4, 2015
A Life Saving Opportunity
“You never want to find a result,” Schroeder said. “You never want to have a hit like that, but knowing that we did, we know that potentially it could save a life of a child.”
May 5, 2015
A Different Kind of Test for District 207 Students
“As a cardiologist, one of the most challenging things I have to deal with is sudden cardiac death, said Dr. Joseph Marek.”
April 16, 2015
Screening for Hidden Heart Problems
WGN Live News Broadcast at Maine East High School with Dr. Joseph Marek, Founder and Medical Director of the Young Hearts for Life Cardiac Screening Program.
April 13, 2015
Young Hearts for Life can save lives
April 11, 2015
Guest View: Young Hearts for Life Can Save Lives
Plainfield, Oswego, Shorewood, and Joliet communities are now developing plan to provide ECG screenings to students after the tragic loss of an eighth grade student in February due to an undetected heart condition.
April 9, 2015
News You Can Use
Youth cardiac screenings take place at York Community High School thanks to a grant from Elmhurst Hospital.
March 17, 2015
OPRF Club Partners with Young Hearts for Life
A young hockey player experiencing a cardiac arrest in October, 2014 was a wake up call to screen the other players and their siblings.
February 26, 2015
Could Your Student Be At Risk for Sudden Cardiac Death?
“We are very fortunate to have community members wanting to help,” says Dr. Marek.
February 25, 2015
AMSSM & FIFA Hold 2nd Summit on ECG Interpretation in Athletes with Top Worldwide Sports Cardiology Experts
Dr. Joseph Marek was among the international group of physician experts who attended the 2015 Summit this month to establish a consensus on ECG standards to improve cardiac safety and impact sudden cardiac death in athletes.
February 12, 2015
West Aurora High Students Check Heart Health
Rashann Ford, 17, a senior, was excited to have the test done….”They are really saving lives here.”
February 11, 2015
AU Students Perform ECG Screenings
“This event helps determine whether there are any heart abnormalities in our student-athletes,” said Skyla Strum, a junior athletic training major who helped administer the tests. “It’s really cool how that we get to organize this event, while gaining experience and learning more about how the heart works.”
February 5, 2015
Heart Disease Plays No Favorites
“Aggelopoulos was a football player since kindergarten. He was in good shape. Why in the heck did he pass out after a routine workout?”
2014
Taking Action versus Sitting on the Sidelines
December 7, 2014
Test for Heart Abnormalities Can Save a Life
Mr. Dale Nickos visits Harold L. Richards High School to encourage students to participate in the upcoming Young Hearts for Life Cardiac Screening after losing his son, Tim, unexpectedly from an undetected heart condition.
November 2, 2014
Barrington H.S. Students Take Advantage of Free Heart Screenings
“The whole idea is to try and detect things before they get symptoms because a lot of kids have never had health problems,” said Frank Zimmerman, a pediatric cardiologist and member of the Young Hearts for Life Medical Advisory Committee.
June 23, 2014
Parents’ Push for Heart Tests for Young Athletes Splits Doctors
Dr. Marek, among those contributing to this Wall Street Journal article, says “We have certainly identified a whole host of kids who had previously undiagnosed conditions, some of them quite serious.” YH4L student advocate interviewed agrees with the push to screen.
May 28, 2014
On CPR Training to Junior High Students
New law passed in Illinois. Students will be required to learn CPR.
Dr. Marek, one step ahead, has already been teaching students CPR at Butler Junior High for several years.
May 9, 2014
Teen Athlete’s Sudden Death Spotlights Need for Screening
More than 3,000 young adults in the United States die each year from sudden cardiac arrest. According to the American Heart Association, 82% of cardiovascular deaths have occurred during physical activity.
March 25, 2014
Over 1,000 Students Screened at Oak Lawn Community High School
Mr. Dale Nickos lost Tim, his 17 year old son, just before his senior year at Oak Lawn Community
High School. The autopsy revealed hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a condition that often can be identified with an ECG.
January 24, 2014
First time in the United States and Saving Hundreds of Lives
Young Hearts for Life® (YH4L) Cardiac Screening Program, nationally known for its unique model, screened its 100,000th student Friday, January 24th at Montini High School for conditions that cause sudden cardiac death.
2012
First Hand Experience from Experts & Families
February 20, 212
ECG Summit: The Seattle Critera
Dr. Marek was among the panel of experts establishing ECG interpretation standards distinguishing physiologic adaptations in athletes from ECG findings suggestive of pathology.
March 30, 2012
Fund to Help Give Students Heart Screenings
With first hand experience of losing a child, the Wetters reach out to give students at Geneva High School the opportunity to receive a free ECG screeening. Their son, Ryan Christopher, died suddenly from an undiagnosed heart arrhythmia at the age of 22.
February 8, 2012
Heart Tests Urged for Student Athletes
Advocates support ECG screenings. “There’s nothing to lose…”
2011
Heros Working Together
March 16, 2011
Reavis Remembers Regalado
Losing a 15 year old has a lasting impact on a community. Robert died in 2009 at age 15 due to undetected hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. His parents now speak out to help others be aware that cardiac conditions due exist and are life threatening in young adults.
January, 2011
Hero for Young Hearts
Congratulations to Dr. Marek who received the Hero for Young Hearts Founder’s Award at the National Parent Heart Watch Conference.
2010
Opportunities to Help More Young Adults
October 30, 2010
YH4L Volunteer Hoping to Save Lives and Others Grief
Mary Woods lost her son, Dan, suddenly to cardiomyopathy at age 29. She travels to neighboring high schools such as Barrington High School on a mission to help other families avoid the tragedy she experienced.
October 29, 2010
Rockford Team On Board
Dr. Marek helps team at Swedish American Hospital offer ECG screenings to nearby high schools.
August 26, 2010
College Athletes at Benedictine University Benefit from YH4L Partnership
Dr. Marek led a pilot program at Benedictine University to help screen student athletes with the ultimate goal to expand the service to all college students.
2009
ECG Screenings, A Worthwhile Cause
August 19, 2009
As seen in the Herald News
ECG Testing in Dupage County
An ounce of prevention is worth its price in gold.
2008
Shock of Tragedy
April 29, 2008
As seen in The Daily Herald
Physician Opening Eyes and Hearts with Rotary Club Presentation
March 30, 2008
As seen in the Courier News
