More Than Just a Physical
Jesse Bethel High School athletes are cleared to play with free sports physicals
On a sunlit Wednesday in late June, the gym at Jesse Bethel High School (JBHS) didn’t echo with the usual squeak of sneakers or the thud of basketballs. Instead, it pulsed with something quieter but no less powerful. Care, the steady rhythm of community, and the weight being lifted from parents and students alike.
For this summer day, the gym transformed into a makeshift clinic, where stethoscopes replaced whistles and exam tables stood where assemblies were held. Touro University California’s School of Nursing (SON) students, clad in scrubs and purpose, joined forces with the Vallejo City Unified School District (VCUSD) to offer free sports physicals to local student-athletes. It was more than a health initiative; it was a lifeline.
“We see this as a really amazing opportunity,” said VCUSD Director Cassie Gossett. “By partnering with Touro and strengthening our relationship, together we can then be a great service to our families and students to make sure they have the opportunities that they deserve and are able to participate in sports.”
Gossett also highlighted a key area of why these physicals are so important to JBHS families. “Our students and families are super resourceful and committed to making sure their kids have what they need, but this is an opportunity for us to be of better service and be able to eliminate a potential barrier that might prevent access from students participating in sports.” The faculty at JBHS felt it too. They saw their students not just as athletes, but as kids with dreams, finally given a clear path forward.
For many Touro students and educators, this day was also a reminder of why they chose this path in the first place. “This is a win-win for Touro and the community. It gives our MSN, FNP, and PMHNP students the opportunity to provide exams and get the clinical hours that they need while serving the students within the Vallejo School District who are having difficulty getting their physicals.” said Kathleen Hahn, Assistant Professor and MSN Chair at Touro University California. For the students of TUC, the day was a rare and welcome opportunity to gain pediatric clinical hours—something hard to come by in Solano County where pediatric-specific care is scarce.
For many families, the path to a sports season is paved with paperwork, scheduling conflicts, and the quiet stress of making it all work. While waiting for her son’s appointment to finish, Rickeya Bushnell added, “Previously, getting my son into an appointment has been a big hurdle to get over. I work in healthcare and it’s still a challenge... By having these events, it gives access to these free checks to see how your kid is doing while also making it easier for them to play school sports.”
By the end of the day, the gym was quieter, but the impact lingered. In total, 60 students were cleared to play for this upcoming season by receiving free sports physicals. Dozens of future nurses had grown a little more into their calling. And a community, often stretched thin, had come together to lift its own. Because sometimes the strongest heartbeat in a gym isn’t from a sprint or a slam dunk, it’s from the people who show up, roll up their sleeves, and care.