The Living Heart Foundation (LHF) is a multi-institutional, IRB approved organization dedicated to CV health screening, database creation, outcomes reporting and wellness program development. 

Life in the National Football League may be exciting, but it is also physically and emotionally demanding.  The Founder and Director of the Living Heart Foundation (LHF), Arthur “Archie” Roberts MD, played briefly, while going to medical school, as a back-up QB in the mid-1960’s with the Cleveland Browns and Miami Dolphins.  He later became a well-known heart surgeon for over 20 years.

One day, while speaking to other doctors at a meeting, he unexpectedly had a stroke.  Fortunately, his stroke was mild and reversible.  He had a second chance with the rest of his life and is committed to helping athletes and members of the general public avoid the mistakes that he made in neglecting his own health.  From these life experiences, the National Wellness health program LHF Hope (Heart-Obesity-Prevention-Education) was born.

The LHF, a (501)c(3) non-profit organization, founded by Archie in 2001, first used its established nationwide healthcare network to provide technically advanced, voluntary, health screenings for retired professional football players at regional participating medical facilities within major geographical areas around the country.  Initially, the LHF worked closed with the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) and, more recently, the NFL Player Care Foundation (NFL, NFLPA, NFL Alumni and the Pro Football Hall of Fame) to plan and deliver the health-screening program.  Multiple national medical associations have supported the LHF and its core group of regional hospital partners and network of physicians to assist the Foundation by providing skilled personnel and advanced facilities to assist at the health screenings and provide expert medical planning to strengthen program content.

The LHF Hope Study currently includes the following institutions:  Temple University (Philadelphia), Mayo Clinic (Scottsdale), George Washington University (Washington DC) and the University of South Florida (Tampa).  The University of Texas (Houston) is joining the process in July of 2014.

The Hope program goal is to offer a wellness screening program designed to improve the early identification of health risk in these former elite athletes and utilize the information to help capture the interest of and train the general public, with minimal financial charge to the beneficiaries, due to health grants and sponsor support. An example of a needy health group includes former professional football players who benefit from our health screening and referral.  In large part, their vulnerability relates to continued very large body mass which is associated with a variety of co-morbidities including hypertension, diabetes, elevated cholesterol, obstructive sleep apnea, arthritis and cancer.  Similarly, members of the general public who are overweight or deconditioned are also at health risk.

The health risk knowledge gained from the LHF programs empower people to learn about ways to limit the impact of evolving health problems that may occur as the inevitable aging process takes its toll.