Empowering Dreams, Enriching Lives: Team HEAL Expands Roster

In a move that aims to transform the lives of young athletes in underserved communities, Cedars-Sinai Team HEAL (Helping Enrich Athletes' Lives), in partnership with Los Angeles Unified School District, is expanding its program to include more students at more high schools across Los Angeles County.

Team HEAL provides high school athletes with the resources they need—including injury treatment, prevention and education—to safely participate in school sports. By providing comprehensive support, Team HEAL leaders hope to break down barriers and build bright futures for students.

“We are thrilled to welcome seven additional schools into the Team HEAL family,” said founder and Cedars-Sinai Kerlan-Jobe Institute surgeon Clarence Shields Jr., MD. “By expanding our reach from five schools to a dozen, we are ensuring that more young athletes have access to top-notch care, training, mentorship, and resources that can truly be life-changing.”

The expansion schools—each with a median of 90% of the student body qualifying for free or reduced-price lunches—exemplify Team HEAL's commitment to fostering growth in communities facing socioeconomic challenges.

The new schools participating in Team HEAL include John Marshall High School, Bell High School, Esteban E. Torres High School, Fairfax High School, King/Drew Magnet High School of Medicine and Science, Jordan High School Magnet, and Nathaniel Narbonne High School. 

Team HEAL already is established at Carson High STEAM School, Crenshaw High School STEMM Magnet, Phineas Banning Senior High School, Susan Miller Dorsey Senior High School and Westchester Enriched Sciences Magnets.

The program equips the schools with resources such as Team HEAL scholarships, athletic training room equipment and supplies, injury clinics at designated urgent care locations, and educational opportunities for students, athletic trainers and school administrators.

Team HEAL's distinctive approach lies in its dual emphasis on athletic excellence and injury prevention, ensuring that young athletes safely can achieve their full potential. 

Participation in athletic programs offers more than just physical activity, it provides an avenue for personal growth, character development, and opportunities for higher education.

"Through this expansion, we aim to impact the lives of more than 2,800 student-athletes, giving them the tools they need to succeed on and off the field,” said Shields.

Read more on the Cedars-Sinai Blog: Champions for Young Athletes