NFLPA, Pro Player Health Alliance & Living Heart Foundation Announce HOPE Program Seattle Health Evaluation

Seattle, WA (PRWEB) September 02, 2014

David Gergen, President of Pro Player Health Alliance (PPHA), Andre Collins, Executive Director of the Professional Athletes Foundation at the NFLPA, and Dr. Archie Roberts, Founder of the Living Heart Foundation (LHF) are looking to increase awareness and improve overall health with a series of evaluations across the country through a research initiative known as the HOPE Program.

HOPE (Heart, Obesity, Prevention & Education) Program health evaluations conducted by LHF include extensive blood testing, body composition, blood pressure determinations, dental hygiene evaluations, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) testing and several other tests aimed at evaluating cardiovascular risk and educating former players about the risks associated with obesity.

Living Heart Foundation, together with the NFLPA and Pro Player Health Alliance, will continue the HOPE Program evaluations in Seattle on September 7, 2014 at the University of Washington Medical Center Regional Heart Center. David Gergen has been appointed as the Sleep Apnea Director and General Dentistry Director of LHF's HOPE Program. Gergen and members of PPHA will be on-site providing education, awareness and evaluations regarding sleep disordered breathing and dentistry.

Tasked with staffing the HOPE Program evaluation, Mr. Gergen turned to two of the most respected dental sleep medicine professionals in the Seattle area. Dr. Lance Timmerman has practiced dentistry in the Seattle area for nearly two decades and will be conducting dental evaluations for the HOPE Program. When asked why Dr. Timmerman was chosen to participate, David Gergen says, "Dr. Timmerman really takes the time to get to know each one of his patients, he is constantly keeping up with technological advances in dentistry and I know he can provide world-class dentistry to the former players." Joining Dr. Timmerman in Seattle will be Dr. Steve Carstensen. Dr. Carstensen is one of the nations' foremost authorities in dental sleep medicine. "Dr. Carstensen will be alongside PPHA to conduct sleep apnea evaluations for the HOPE Program. He grew up in Seattle and has lived in the Pacific Northwest for most of his life so I just thought he was a natural fit for this event," says David Gergen when asked about Dr. Carstensen's role with the HOPE Program.

If you would like to find out more about the HOPE Program, please visit http://www.livingheartfoundation.org. The website is frequently updated with a list of upcoming health evaluations. Check it out to see if the HOPE Program is coming to an NFL city near you.

ABOUT LIVING HEART FOUNDATION

The Living Heart Foundation (LHF) is a nonprofit organization under IRS 501 (c) (3) code. The LHF was initially funded by a grant from the Edison Foundation. Subsequently, Funding sources and donations have been obtained from companies like Covidien, Pfizer, Meridian Health System, Siemens, Professional Athletes Foundation, and from individual sources. The LHF was established by Arthur J. Roberts, MD in April 2001 to combat sudden cardiac death and to provide cardiovascular risk stratification with early preventive intervention for cardiac, pulmonary, and metabolic conditions through on-site screening and integrated follow-up health programs. The LHF has published 10 peer review papers related to CV risk in college students & athletes, as well as former NFL athletes.

ABOUT THE NFL PLAYERS ASSOCIATION

The National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) is a non-profit, professional sports union that protects the best interests and welfare of all NFL players. Established in 1956, the NFLPA is governed by a Board of Player Representatives, acting in accordance with the NFLPA Constitution and federal labor laws. The NFLPA's responsibilities include: Representing all players in matters concerning wages, hours and working conditions and protecting their rights as professional football players; ensuring that the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement are met; negotiating and monitoring retirement and insurance benefits; providing other member services and activities; providing assistance to charitable and community organizations; enhancing and defending the image of players and their profession, on and off the field. For more information, visit http://www.NFLPlayers.com.

About Pro Player Health Alliance

The Pro-Players Health Alliance (PPHA) is an organization dedicated to helping former NFL players, through providing testing and treatment options for those who suffer from sleep apnea. In addition, the PPHA is dedicated to integrating education and raising sleep apnea awareness, in a fun and memorable way. In addition to the campaign, the PPHA is dedicated to testing and getting people treated who suffer from sleep apnea. This has been stepped up by working though The Living Heart Foundation and its HOPE program sponsored by the NFLPA. The PPHA was created David Gergen, President of Gergen's Orthodontic Laboratories and Former NFL legends.

About David Gergen

David Gergen, CDT, rolled out of bed on December 4, 1982 and had his career "ah ha" moment. He knew he was going to be an orthodontic technician and he knew he was going to help people all over the country to help treat their sleep disorders in partnership with their dentists. David Gergen opened his family-owned orthodontic lab in Phoenix, AZ in 1986 and now employees over 80 people. David Gergen has been a nationally respected dental lab technician for over 25 years. He received the award for "The Finest Orthodontic Technician in the Country" given by Columbus Dental in 1986. He also received a lifetime achievement award by the Gelb Academy as America's greatest Orthodontic technician of all time, in 2012. He has worked for some of the pioneers in the orthodontic and sleep dentistry fields. Gergen and his father John Gergen began Gergen Orthodontic Lab in 1984 and have grown it into one of the most respected labs in the country. One of his proudest achievements is receiving The National Leadership award for Arizona Small Businessman of the Year in 2004. David is the Dental Director of the American Sleep and Breathing Academy and he has also taken a spot at Tufts University teaching seminars for the Continuing-Ed program on Dental Sleep Medicine.

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