Quinnipiac School of Nursing assists with student heart screenings in New Haven

Press release

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Dec. 5, 2025 – Faculty, students and alumni from the Quinnipiac University School of Nursing partnered with In a Heartbeat, a Connecticut-based nonprofit founded by Quinnipiac alumni Mike Papale, to provide free cardiac screenings for high school students during an event at the Floyd Little Athletic Center in New Haven on Wed. Dec. 3.

The Quinnipiac contingent consisted of Pina Violano, clinical associate professor of nursing and director of community engagement program, Corrine Lee, clinical associate professor of nursing, Alyssa Borelli, program assistant, nursing students Carys Dinuzio and Graciel Dumapit, nursing alumnus Zach Abeles and Quinnipiac medical students Isis Torres Nunez, Maria Silva and Danielle Lonati. They conducted EKGs on 63 students throughout the day.

High school students who attended the event received CPR training and learned how to use an automated external defibrillator. Three students were identified with irregular EKG results and were referred to Yale Pediatric Cardiology for further evaluation.

“Providing free EKG screening for our youth is important to identify hidden heart conditions which may not be apparent during a standard physical exam or show any symptoms in daily life,” Violano said. “This simple and painless test can detect issues like hypertrophic cardiomyopathy that could lead to sudden cardiac arrest, which can be fatal during intense physical activity. Early detection allows for appropriate treatment and helps prevent potentially fatal events in young people.”