The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler (UTHSCT) hosted their annual sports pre-participation exams for 14 area high schools on Wednesday May 1, 2019. The event, which has continuously grown for nearly a decade, served 1,112 students throughout the East Texas region.

“It is always a great opportunity when we can combine the general health of our local student-athletes with our primary care clinicians and residents,” said Cody Boyd, CEO of UT Health East Texas North Campus Tyler. “Events like these foster the importance of health maintenance at an early age and expose our students, physicians and residents to a broader scope of patient care.”

Dr. James Menard, Family Medicine Associate Professor, and Dr. Leslie Tingle, Rural Family Medicine Residency Director, oversaw the process where UTHSCT Family Medicine and Rural Family Medicine Resident Physicians, in conjunction with the Christus Mother Frances sports medicine training staff, performed the medical screening histories and examinations free of cost to the students. The districts bussed in their students to UT Health East Texas Physicians North Campus Tyler and UT Health East Texas Physicians Pittsburg, where they were seen and then transported back to school, providing an undoubted convenience for the districts, students and parents.

“This is an excellent opportunity to provide a valuable community service to area students to try to identify any concerning ailments or potential problems before they perform intense athletic activities. Additionally, community service is also strongly encouraged by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, who provide oversight for graduate medical education and training of resident physicians,” said Dr. Menard.

Participating School Districts included:

  • Alba-Golden
  • Arp
  • Big Sandy
  • Gladewater
  • Harmony
  • Hawkins
  • Mineola
  • Overton
  • Pittsburg
  • Quitman
  • Rains
  • West Rusk
  • Winnsboro
  • Winona