AHN staff pictured left to right: Colleen Labishak, project coordinator; Kera Stephens, medical assistant; Zachary Quince, athletic trainer; Michael Talotta, physician assistant; Julianne Markovich, program manager.

Mobile health van helps Pittsburgh students stay in the game

Participating in school sports is more accessible for students at Northgate High School in Bellevue, Pennsylvania. This June, the Allegheny Health Network’s (AHN) Pediatric Institute brought a mobile health van to the school, providing essential and affordable sports physicals to students who might otherwise struggle to get them.

“By bringing the physical to them, we can really increase sports participation rates. Many students don’t participate simply because getting a physical is too difficult.” 

Michael Talotta, AHN physician assistant

In June, the mobile health van provided sports physicals to students at Northgate High School, allowing 30 students to become eligible to play sports in the fall. At Baldwin-Whitehall High School, a similar clinic helped even more students, many from economically disadvantaged families.

The van also supports broader community health initiatives, offering biometric screenings at events like Monroeville’s Community Day and Pittsburgh’s Juneteenth celebration. Colleen Labishak, a project coordinator at AHN, sees the mobile clinics as an opportunity to build trust within the community. “We’re building relationships with these kids and families,” she said.

As AHN’s mobile health program evolves, the van will continue to play a crucial role in providing accessible healthcare to Pittsburgh’s underserved communities, helping kids stay in the game and stay healthy.