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The Peyton Walker Foundation and the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute

The UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute is proud to partner with the Peyton Walker Foundation to increase education about heart disease, the importance of heart screenings, and how to respond in an emergency situation.

About Peyton Walker

In November 2013, college student Peyton Walker passed away at 19 years old after experiencing sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). Doctors determined this was related to a heart condition she had known as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. 

An avid outdoors enthusiast, Peyton never let her diagnosis limit her lifestyle – often participating in activities such as hiking, rock climbing, and snowboarding.

Friends describe Peyton, a native of Camp Hill, Pa., as “the epitome of liveliness and sassiness…welcoming and warm” and someone who “radiated joy and caused unstoppable laughter.”

Forming the Foundation

After Peyton’s passing, it became the mission of her mother, Julie, to do what she could to help ensure that other families won’t need to know what it’s like to lose a child to SCA.

The Peyton Walker Foundation (PWF) provides free heart screenings for students and athletes, ranging in ages from 10 to 22, throughout Central Pa. These young people receive a check of their vital signs, get monitored for heart murmurs, and receive an electrocardiogram (EKG). If these tests reveal anything unusual, a free ultrasound of the heart, known as an echocardiogram, is offered.

While awaiting their test results, students also learn how to perform CPR and are trained in using an automated external defibrillator (AED).

At the end of these events, which typically last an hour, the students’ family members receive a copy of the EKG and a report summary during a consultation with a health care professional.

Partnership with the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute

Since the formation of PWF, UPMC in Central Pa. has been a consistent force in helping Julie and her team fulfill their mission.

Members of the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute care team, including cardiologists, nurses, technicians, and other providers, have offered their expertise as part of PWF’s educational efforts. Michael Bosak, MD, serves on the Foundation’s board of directors and is also their medical director.

In recent years, the UPMC Pinnacle Foundation and PWF have partnered to donate AEDs to police departments, universities, sports stadiums, and other entities in Central Pa.

In the News

  • Harrisburg Senators employee helps save a life using AED on City Island
  • Heart of the Matter: Peyton Walker Foundation makes sure the beat goes on
  • Peyton Walker Foundation aims to save young lives from sudden cardiac arrest
  • Peyton Walker Foundation sees spike in demand for AEDS across Central Pa.

About Sudden Cardiac Arrest

  • One of the leading causes of death in the U.S., SCA claims more than 350,000 lives each year.
  • SCA is the leading cause of death among young athletes in the U.S.
  • Statistically, a student dies from SCA every hour of every day. The majority of those deaths are attributed to detectable and treatable heart conditions that went undiagnosed due to the limited scope of standard sports physicals and well-child check-ups.
  • SCA is the leading cause of death on school campuses.
  • Survival rates of SCA are less than 10%. 

Often, there are no warning signs for SCA. The first symptom is often sudden death.

But some warning signs that can lead to SCA include:

  • Chest pain.
  • Dizziness.
  • Fainting.
  • Lightheadedness.
  • Passing out.
  • Shortness of breath.

The use of AEDs and CPR increase the chances of someone surviving an SCA event.

Learn More

  • Peyton Walker Foundation
UPMC
200 Lothrop Street Pittsburgh, PA 15213

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