Texas Border Business
Edinburg, Texas – To improve access to essential healthcare services, DHR Health Clinics has partnered with Edinburg Consolidated Independent School District (ECISD) to provide free annual sports physicals for middle and high school students. These exams are not only free to students but will also be conducted on-site at each school’s gymnasium, eliminating barriers to access. By bringing the exams directly to students, families will no longer need to miss work, pull their child out of school, or travel to a healthcare provider’s office.
Under University Interscholastic League (UIL) regulations, students must complete an annual physical exam to participate in UIL events for the summer and fall of 2025. This includes students involved in sports, color guard, band, cheer and drill team. To participate, students must complete the UIL sports physical form, have it signed by a parent or guardian, and submit it to their school’s athletic trainer before their scheduled exam.
DHR Health Clinics will visit each ECISD middle and high school from March through May 2025, ensuring all students have the opportunity to complete their required physicals. Licensed board-certified family medicine and sports medicine physicians from DHR Health, along with Family Medicine Residents from DHR Health’s Graduate Medical Education Program, second-year UTRGV Physician Assistant (PA) students, and other clinical staff, will conduct these comprehensive exams.
Each head-to-toe physical exam will assess a student’s head, eyes, ears, nose, throat, heart, lungs, abdomen (for female students), hernia (for male students), bones, joints, muscles, coordination, balance, and reflexes—ensuring they are fit and ready for participation.
While routine, these physicals play a critical role in injury prevention and early health issue detection for student athletes.
“This initiative ensures students receive the physicals they need to stay healthy and participate in UIL activities,” said Melissa Salinas, Community Engagement Liaison at DHR Health Clinics. “These quick exams provide a full picture of an athlete’s health, helping detect issues like heart murmurs or hernias early. Our goal is to make sure every student has access to the care they need.”
Parents of ECISD middle or high school students who wish to take advantage of this free service should contact their school’s athletic trainer to obtain the necessary UIL sports physical form. The school’s athletic trainer can also provide details on the specific date for their child’s sports physical.
