Athletes receive free physicals

Approximately 300 area athletes received free health screenings to ensure they can participate in team sports this fall. The annual physicals, organized by Charles Rush, MD and Gary Shapiro, MD of Kennedy-White Orthopaedic Center, were provided to student athletes from Booker, Riverview and Sarasota High Schools in the auditorium at Doctors Hospital.

“Without this free service, many of our players would be sidelined,” said coach Rod Dragash, athletic director at Booker High School. “It is a requirement of the Florida High School Athletic Association that every player pass a required health screening before being eligible to play.”