Special Olympics Hopefuls Head to BRG Mid City for Free Sports Physicals

BATON ROUGE, La. – Baton Rouge General (BRG) is hosting a Special Olympics Medical Day at its Mid City campus Wednesday, Aug. 28, providing free physicals to students who plan to participate in Special Olympic athletic competition. In the previous two years, nearly 700 student athletes received free physicals as part of the event.

BRG physicians and nurses will provide the physicals for ESS students (Exceptional Student Services) from East Baton Rouge parish schools. Participation in Special Olympic athletic competition requires that each athlete have a physical, which stays current for three years.

“As part of our mission, Special Olympics Louisiana-Capital Area strives to alleviate the burden on families who want to have their children participate in Special Olympic athletic competition,” said Charles Guillory, Capital area team leader. “We know how difficult it can be for some families to find the resources and financial means to fulfill the requirement of a physical.”

While on the BRG Mid City campus, students will also enjoy music, courtesy of BRG’s Arts in Medicine (AIM) program. AIM was created in 2012 and brings creative activities to patients through painting, drawing, arts and crafts, music and storytelling in a format that inspires hope and promotes healing.

“Special Olympics is a wonderful organization that gives these individuals a place to socialize, gather and be active,” said Dr. Steven Zuckerman, a neurologist at BRG and one of the volunteer physicians for the event. “I have a soft spot in my heart for this group, and I’m honored to help facilitate a partnership with Baton Rouge General that speaks to the mission of both organizations.”

Last year, Special Olympics-Capital Area’s three main events for EBR schools -- horseshoes, bowling, and track -- included 2,300 special education students.

For more information, visit laso.org.

About Special Olympics Louisiana-Capital Area

Special Olympics Louisiana-Capital Area is the premier social, medical and athletic resource for residents with intellectual disabilities, serving the parishes of Ascension, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Point Coupee and West Baton Rouge.

About Baton Rouge General Medical Center
Baton Rouge General Medical Center is the area’s first community hospital with 588 licensed beds between two campuses. Baton Rouge General opened its doors in 1900, and has provided the Greater Baton Rouge community with high-quality healthcare for generations. An accredited teaching hospital since 1991, Baton Rouge General serves as an affiliate of Tulane University School of Medicine, and offers other medical education programs, including a School of Nursing, School of Radiologic Technology, Family Medicine Residency Program, Internal Medicine Residency Program, and Sports Medicine Fellowship Program. For more information, visit BRGeneral.org, find us on Facebook at Facebook.com/BatonRougeGeneral and follow us on Twitter at @BRGeneral.

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