Quinnipiac University to Host Second Annual National Youth Heart Screening Day on Feb. 7

Press release

Quinnipiac University to host second annual National Youth Heart Screening Day on Feb. 7

HAMDEN, Conn. – Jan. 29, 2026 – Quinnipiac University will offer quick, painless and free cardiac screenings on Saturday, Feb. 7, as part of its second annual National Youth Heart Screening Day.
The event is for area families, young adults and Quinnipiac students, and will take place from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Recreation and Wellness Center on the Mount Carmel Campus, 275 Mount Carmel Ave.
Walk-ins are welcome, but pre-registration at screening.inaheartbeat.org is encouraged. Approximately 500 participants and their families are expected to attend.
Pina Violano, director of community engagement for the School of Nursing, said the large-scale health and wellness event will engage nursing students with the community while providing free, potentially lifesaving electrocardiogram (EKG) screenings and hands-on CPR training. According to In A Heartbeat, an EKG can detect approximately 60% of heart condition abnormalities associated with sudden cardiac death that cannot be detected by a stethoscope.
“This is preventative medicine at its best,” said Violano, who is also a clinical associate professor of nursing. “We’re looking at finding any young person that may have any kind of hidden ailment with their heart. It’s a simple screening that could prevent them from dying on a basketball court or playing field.”
The American Heart Association estimates that nearly 23,000 children and adolescents under the age of 25 experience a sudden cardiac arrest in the U.S. each year.
In A Heartbeat founder and Quinnipiac alumnus Mike Papale ’11 experienced sudden cardiac arrest at age 17 while playing basketball at a Wallingford court. An EMT who was in the building administered CPR until an ambulance equipped with an AED arrived to restart Papale’s heart. That experience convinced Papale of the need for public access to AED machines in communal spaces and inspired him to found In A Heartbeat.
“Each year, we lose more and more of our youth to sudden cardiac arrest,” said Papale, who also spent three seasons as director of operations for the Quinnipiac men’s basketball team. “Many of these deaths are preventable. A quick, simple, painless electrocardiogram (EKG) can detect most heart diseases that can cause sudden cardiac arrest in youth. We are proud to participate in National Youth Heart Screening Day and our ultimate goal is to help save more lives.”
At Quinnipiac, the School of Nursing Community Engagement Program offers vital health and safety training designed to equip individuals from across the university and surrounding communities with the skills needed to respond confidently and effectively in emergencies. Violano frequently partners with Papale and student volunteers to offer lifesaving intervention training and services at Quinnipiac athletic events and community programs.
“Together, Mike and I have held other screenings, but not to the magnitude we have planned for this event,” said Violano. “Our goal this year is to screen approximately 500 people. We’re helping the community, we’re saving lives, and we’re providing hands-on clinical experience to our own students.”
Violano said the opportunity for nursing students to perform EKG screenings, particularly with younger patients, provides invaluable experiential learning. “You could be a nurse for 10 years and never do an EKG on anyone. This is providing nursing students with experiential learning. It’s real-life experience,” she said.
The Feb. 7 screening event will combine the efforts of nursing students from all levels with School of Nursing faculty, along with volunteers trained in CPR and AED use. Hands-on CPR training for community members will also be offered. Additionally, Violano has connected with pediatric cardiologists to provide immediate patient support if needed.
“Should someone’s screening alert to something of concern, we will get them in immediately to see a physician,” said Violano.
The free cardiac screening event also provides a critical service to families and young adults that could prevent a tragic outcome.
“As a former pediatric intensive care unit nurse, I know firsthand the devastation a parent faces when they receive a notice that their child has a heart defect,” Violano said. “In my mind, there’s no question that this is the right thing to do. A simple, painless screening can prevent a tragedy for a family and, more importantly, save a life. As nurses, we’re one of the most trusted professions, and we want the community to know that we are here for them. By hosting this free event on Feb. 7, we’re doing the right thing for families and their kids.”