Contact: Jacquelyn Spruce
Phone: (210) 567-0414
E-mail: sprucej@uthscsa.edu

Dr. Lisa Pitino, rehabilitation medicine resident, examines 18-year-old Jessica Davila. Davila hopes to participate in the Special Olympics program.
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Residents at the Health Science Center are reaching out to hundreds of Northside Independent School District (NISD) students with developmental delays to provide them with free physical exams that are necessary for the students to participate in the Special Olympics program.

“We are so thankful to the Health Science Center for making these physicals available to the students,” said Debbie Watson, NISD Special Olympics coordinator. “Most of them would not be able to participate without the help of the Health Science Center.”

Four hundred forty-five physical exams were performed Friday, Oct. 14 at the Holmgreen Junior-Senior High School gym. Nicolas Walsh, M.D., professor and chair of rehabilitation medicine; Hope Hacker, M.D., assistant professor of rehabilitation medicine; 10 residents and one medical student were on hand to assist the students with special needs. The Health Science Center has provided physicals for students to participate in the Special Olympics program for more than 15 years, Watson said. This year, students from 72 schools within NISD received physicals.

“This is an excellent opportunity for the residents to serve the community in which we live and work,” said Carlos Martinez, D.O., administrative chief resident. “The teachers, parents and students have been very appreciative of our help in past years, and they all are a pleasure to work with.”

The Special Olympics program is an international sports training and competition program for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Students are required to have an athlete enrollment/medical release form that has been reviewed and signed by a physician after a physical.

“It’s difficult for working parents to take their child to the family physician for the required medical clearance, so we are happy that our residents volunteer to assist,” said Nicolas Walsh, M.D., professor and chair of rehabilitation medicine.