Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the leading cause of sudden cardiac death in young athletes, according to the American Heart Association, and often goes undetected. To address this challenge, the Association has concluded a three-year national campaign focused on students and families at Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Hispanic-Serving Institutions nationwide. The initiative amplified education around HCM Awareness Day, observed on the final Wednesday of February, with the campaign concluding on the 2026 observance.
Sudden cardiac death disproportionately affects Black athletes and is more frequently linked to competitive sports involving sudden movements like football or basketball. An estimated 1 in 500 people live with HCM, though a substantial percentage remain undiagnosed. Because HCM can trigger sudden cardiac arrest without warning during physical activity, knowing how to respond in the first moments of an emergency can mean the difference between life and death.
Throughout the campaign, HCM education was intentionally paired with Hands-Only CPR training to reinforce readiness for sudden cardiac emergencies. Hundreds of students, athletes, and community members received hands-on CPR demonstrations, advancing the Association’s Nation of Lifesavers movement and helping equip young people with skills that can double or triple survival rates when cardiac arrest occurs.
The campaign featured English and Spanish-language radio public service announcements and on-campus CPR demonstrations. Messages reinforced the importance of family heart history, early detection, and CPR education, particularly for student-athletes and their families. To extend reach and credibility, the Association collaborated with Black and multicultural media platforms, including a national content integration curated by Sybil Wilkes’ ‘Check In & Check Up’ with the State of Black Health: Public Health and Media Symposium at the National Press Club in Washington D.C.
‘When students, coaches and families understand both the risks of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and how to respond immediately to sudden cardiac arrest, we create an environment where prevention and preparedness go hand in hand,’ said Matthew Martinez, M.D., FAHA, FACC, an American Heart Association volunteer medical expert and co-author of the 2024 American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology Guideline for the Management of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.
Martinez, who is also director of Sports Cardiology and the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Program at Atlantic Health Morristown Medical Center, added that ‘culturally responsive, campus-centered outreach, particularly across HBCU and HSI athletic communities, ensures that young athletes are not only informed about their heart health but also feel confident and prepared to step in and help save a life.’
The campaign engaged student-athletes and families at HBCU homecomings and rivalry games at Hampton University, Norfolk State University, Howard University and Xavier University of Louisiana, as well as the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Basketball Tournament. Additional education took place at conferences including the United Negro College Fund Leadership Conference and the Hispanic Educational Technology Services Student Experience Summit & Showcase in Puerto Rico.
The Association expanded its Heart Club, the organization’s student-led campus organization, to empower students as ongoing heart health ambassadors on their campuses. The campaign demonstrated how sustained, culturally relevant engagement aligned with awareness moments and trusted partners can drive national impact. By centering communities disproportionately affected by sudden cardiac death and cardiovascular disease, the American Heart Association continues to advance health equity while helping save lives through education and action.
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