BEHIND
THE MISSION

A team of leaders, medical professionals and community advocates working together to protect young athletes.

OUR STORY

WHERE IT ALL BEGAN

USA for Athletes was born at home in Las Vegas, inspired by young lives in our community and a mission that grew into a movement far beyond our city.

USA for Athletes began with an urgent realization: for many young athletes with an undetected heart condition, there may be no obvious warning before Sudden Cardiac Arrest occurs. Athletes can look healthy, feel healthy and compete at a high level without knowing they may be at risk. And one of the questions we hear most often is, “Isn’t heart screening already part of the annual sports physical?” The answer is “NO”

That gap is why we exist to raise awareness, educate families, expand access to ECG heart screening, and advocate for a higher standard of heart safety in youth sports.

Ashari Hughes, 16

Desert Oasis High School flag football player who collapsed and died during a game on January 5, 2023.

Jordan Brister, 17

Amplus Acdemy, suffered sudden cardiac arrest at school on January 3, 2023, and later passed away.

Ben Christman. 21

UNLV, died in February 2025 from heart disease and an irregular heartbeat after complaining about chest pain at practice.

Brian Keeler, 20

UNLV, died from a fatal irregular heartbeat caused by hypertrophic cardiomyopathy on February 20, 2023.

Chloe Puckett. 14

Gymnast suffered sudden cardiac arrest in her sleep due to an undetected heart disease passed April 27, 2020

OUR MISSION

To help prevent Sudden Cardiac Death in young athletes through early detection, education, awareness and greater access to ECG heart screening.

OUR VISION

A future where heart screening becomes a standard part of protecting young athletes and where every athlete, regardless of where they live or play, has access to potentially lifesaving cardiac screening.