Peace Madueme, MD, discusses cardiology screenings and Florida's Second Chance Act

In this video interview, Peace Madueme, MD, chief of Cardiology at Nemours Children’s Hospital in Orlando, discusses pediatric cardiology screenings and how they are increasingly playing a role in the state of Florida, accompanying routine physicals for youth sports athletes.

“In the state of Florida, all youth athletes every year have to get a pre-sport, or sports pre-participation physical, and that’s usually done with their pediatrician,” Madueme explained. “That’s the visit where, if there are any symptoms, abnormal family history, or medical history identified, then they get sent to myself or a cardiologist in order to clear them for sports or establish care if that’s necessary.”

Madueme emphasized the role of pediatricians in coordinating this care, ensuring that children who need specialized evaluation—whether for cardiology, asthma, or other medical concerns—receive it quickly.

“It always starts, and should always start, with the primary care physician, because they’re the ones who coordinate all that care and make sure that the child is getting the appropriate services,” he said.

While most children ultimately receive clearance to play, Madueme noted that even rare findings can be life-saving. “Obviously, if something serious is found, some kids may not be able to play sports, and then that starts a series of steps that may be necessary,” he said. “But the good news is that most kids are able to play sports, and that’s a good thing for child health.”

The state’s new Second Chance Act, which goes into effect in the 2026–2027 school year, builds on this long-standing system. The law requires all high school athletes to receive an electrocardiogram (EKG) in addition to the standard physical exam, a step aimed at detecting heart conditions that might otherwise go unnoticed. “What that Act does is require all athletes to get an ECG or EKG prior to participating in sports in order to screen for anything serious that could be seen on an EKG,” Madueme said. “Together with the physical exam and medical history, it’s a very powerful screening tool.”

Nemours has already been conducting these screenings for over a year, clearing students based on both EKG results and traditional evaluations. “We try to do that as quickly and expeditiously as we can,” Madueme added. “The goal is to keep kids healthy and make sure they don’t miss their season or their games.”

Reference:

The Second Chance Act – Chance Gainer. Gulf Coast Schools. Published July 10, 2025. Accessed October 6, 2025. https://gulfcoschools.com/the-second-chance-act-chance-gainer/