PORT ST. LUCIE — On Saturday, Nov. 8, the Jessica Clinton MVP Foundation partnered with the Florida Department of Health in St. Lucie County (DOH-St. Lucie) to transform their health site in Port St. Lucie into a full-service cardiac screening clinic for kids.
The event aimed to promote heart health awareness and education among families with children and teens in our local community.
More than 60 dedicated medical and non-medical volunteers participated, allowing the clinic provided free heart screenings to youth ages 5 to 20. Each screening included:
A review of the participant’s health history; Blood pressure measurement; A physical examination by an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) or physician; On-site echocardiograms, when indicated, performed by pediatric cardiologists.
This collaboration made the event one of the most comprehensive and unique heart-health initiatives of its kind, thanks to the presence of pediatric cardiologists and the availability of on-site echocardiography.
The Jessica Clinton MVP Foundation was established in memory of Jessica Clinton, a vibrant high school student at St. Lucie West Centennial High School who tragically passed away in 2003 after cheerleading practice due to an undiagnosed heart condition. In response to this heartbreaking loss, her parents, Ray and Cheryl, founded the organization to help prevent similar tragedies.
The foundation’s mission is twofold:
To advocate for the placement of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in schools and public parks; To provide annual heart screenings for young people across the region.
For more information, visit https://jessicaclinton.org/