UW-Whitewater Prioritizes Heart Health for their Student Athletes

Sudden cardiac death remains the leading medical cause of death in athletes, with the National Institutes of Health estimating one in 40,000 to 80,000 incidents annually. At UW-Whitewater, the tragic loss of men’s basketball player Derek Gray in July 2022 brought this issue into sharp focus.

Gray, a beloved 20-year-old athlete, collapsed and died unexpectedly due to a blood clot in his heart, despite passing all standard health screenings.

“Derek went through a physical process, didn’t have any signs and symptoms of any cardiac-related issues,” said UW-Whitewater Athletic Trainer Steve Hillmer. “Unfortunately, even if he went through additional testing, like an Echocardiogram, they wouldn’t have found an issue.”

Gray’s death has amplified the university’s commitment to heart health. UW-Whitewater Athletic Director Ryan Callahan, who underwent heart surgery at 17, emphasized the hidden risks athletes may face.

“What scares me… is it’s one of those things that you don’t know until something happens,” Callahan said. “Athletes may be living with something they don’t know about.”

Precautionary measures at UW-Whitewater include annual physicals and health questionnaires adapted from the American Heart Association. However, as Hillmer noted, no screening can catch every potential condition. Heart health remains a priority for the athletic department because of its critical nature.

“It’s a major organ in your body with the potential for catastrophic injury,” Hillmer explained. “It’s much more critical than an ankle sprain.”

The risks aren’t confined to active athletes. Former Warhawk basketball and football player Chris Davis Sr. died in 2024 at 36 from an undetected heart condition. Callahan highlighted the transition challenges former athletes face:

“During college, athletes have constant access to resources—training, nutrition, guidance. After college, those resources aren’t always available.”

To address this, the university equips athletes with lifelong health strategies.

“We have experts in each domain to maximize health while they’re here and prepare them for life after,” Hillmer said.

Through these efforts, UW-Whitewater aims to honor Gray’s legacy and ensure the heart health of all athletes remains a top priority. Read more here!