TOPS - Saving Lives...... One EKG at a Time!
The TOPS program was founded in 1998 by osteopathic physician, Paul Steingard, D.O., a sports medicine specialist and family physician from Phoenix. From his many years in private practice, he identified a tremendous need for young athletes to be screened and provided free physicals as part of his practice for over 30 years, in hopes of saving their lives from sudden cardiac arrest and death and from other medical conditions that can cause other illnesses.
He received financial support and administrative assistance from the Arizona Osteopathic Medical Association, from the start, and they remain one of the event’s primary sponsors today. Many of the Association’s osteopathic physicians and other medical providers have and continue to participate in the screenings.
In 2000, a cardiac component was added to the program under the leadership and direction of William Rappoport, M.D., a cardiologist from Arizona Heart Institute. He serves as the lead cardiologist at the TOPS screenings, overseeing the work of a team of attending cardiologists and medical technicians. Both electrocardiograms and echocardiograms are offered, free to the participants, along with cardiac consultations.
The TOPS event is held annually in Phoenix at Sunnyslope High School, in the East Valley at Williams Field High School, and in 2012 will also be held in the West Valley at Youngker High School. A Junior College screening is also held at Midwestern University. Since its inception, over 20,000 youths from eighth grade to community college have received the FREE screenings. The program is made possible by the volunteer efforts of nearly 500 local physicians, physical therapists, nurses, nursing assistants, osteopathic medical students from Midwestern University (Glendale) and A.T. Still University (Mesa) and medical assistants. They donate their Saturday to promote screenings to the student athletes, who are required by Arizona state law to obtain screenings prior to being activated in a school program.
There are a number of sponsors who provide financial support to the project each year. For a list of sponsors, refer to the sponsors section on this site.
In 2010, there was a record set with nearly 4,000 students attending the TOPS events April screening from 61 high schools from throughout Phoenix and the State. Each youth received a comprehensive screening and their findings were sent to their respective schools. Some were identified as requiring additional medical follow-up and were directed to their family physicians. From start through completion, most of the physicals took about two hours.
He received financial support and administrative assistance from the Arizona Osteopathic Medical Association, from the start, and they remain one of the event’s primary sponsors today. Many of the Association’s osteopathic physicians and other medical providers have and continue to participate in the screenings.
In 2000, a cardiac component was added to the program under the leadership and direction of William Rappoport, M.D., a cardiologist from Arizona Heart Institute. He serves as the lead cardiologist at the TOPS screenings, overseeing the work of a team of attending cardiologists and medical technicians. Both electrocardiograms and echocardiograms are offered, free to the participants, along with cardiac consultations.
The TOPS event is held annually in Phoenix at Sunnyslope High School, in the East Valley at Williams Field High School, and in 2012 will also be held in the West Valley at Youngker High School. A Junior College screening is also held at Midwestern University. Since its inception, over 20,000 youths from eighth grade to community college have received the FREE screenings. The program is made possible by the volunteer efforts of nearly 500 local physicians, physical therapists, nurses, nursing assistants, osteopathic medical students from Midwestern University (Glendale) and A.T. Still University (Mesa) and medical assistants. They donate their Saturday to promote screenings to the student athletes, who are required by Arizona state law to obtain screenings prior to being activated in a school program.
There are a number of sponsors who provide financial support to the project each year. For a list of sponsors, refer to the sponsors section on this site.
In 2010, there was a record set with nearly 4,000 students attending the TOPS events April screening from 61 high schools from throughout Phoenix and the State. Each youth received a comprehensive screening and their findings were sent to their respective schools. Some were identified as requiring additional medical follow-up and were directed to their family physicians. From start through completion, most of the physicals took about two hours.
Dr. Paul Steingard
|
Dr. William J. Rappoport
|