Marian Regional Medical Center Family Medicine Residents Give Back, Providing Free Sports Physicals to Local High School Athletes

[PHOTO ABOVE: Dr. Robert Firestone, left, is pictured with Marian Family Residency Program residents Dr. Harsh Ilapakurthi, Dr. Brian Valdez, faculty member Dr. Thomas Rehder, resident Dr. Henry Haruthunian, and Dr. Patrick Voegele, during a clinic offering free sports physicals for students at Nipomo High School.]

Nipomo, CA – June 13, 2025 – Student-athletes from Nipomo and Arroyo Grande high schools received a boost in their preparation for the upcoming school year thanks to the residents from Dignity Health’s Marian Regional Medical Center Family Medicine Residency Program. 

On Thursday, June 12th, resident physicians volunteered their time and expertise to provide free sports physical assessments to hundreds of students at Nipomo High School. They were also joined by community doctors and program faculty members.

The initiative ensured that young athletes have the necessary medical clearance to participate safely in their chosen sports, removing a potential barrier to participation. The physical evaluations covered essential health screenings and assessments, contributing to the overall well-being of the students.

For Dr. Thomas Rehder, a faculty member with the residency program who spearheads free sports screenings for students across the Central Coast, witnessing residents dedicate their time to the community is particularly meaningful. 

“One of the things that drove me to organize these sports physicals is that I was a local athlete myself, at St. Joe’s, and I remember getting my physicals done by local physicians,” he explains. 

Rehder says these health screenings can help “identify athletes with potential concerns to get them plugged into care before something happens – not after.”

"I completed my residency at Marian and then pursued a sports medicine fellowship specifically so I could return to my community," Rehder adds. "I wanted to use that specialized knowledge to address health disparities and improve the quality of care our local athletes receive.”

Matt Quijano and Andrew Boortz, the certified athletic trainers at Arroyo Grande and Nipomo high schools, respectively, said the majority of the schools’ student-athletes completed their physicals during Thursday’s event, with an estimated 700 physicals completed that night alone. 

“Having so much support from such a large variety of doctors has been super helpful for us,” Quijano said. “It gives all our kids the opportunity to get a physical if they can’t get into their doctor or there’s some other extenuating circumstance. It also helps build trust and familiarity with doctors and Dignity Health.”

Dr. Rehder organizes several of these free clinics throughout the year, with the next one expected this summer.

The Marian Family Medicine Residency Program, a three-year post-graduate program training 18 physicians, plays a vital role in addressing the critical need for family physicians on the Central Coast and beyond. The program emphasizes hands-on experience and community involvement, shaping well-rounded physicians who are dedicated to providing exceptional care.

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About Marian Regional Medical Center

Marian Regional Medical Center is a state-of-the-art, 191-bed medical center located in Santa Maria, California. The modern facility is home to a broad array of services including a level II trauma center, a level III neonatal intensive care unit, a nationally recognized cardiac care center, and the Central Coast’s only Comprehensive Community Cancer Program as recognized by the Commission on Cancer. Marian has been recognized for quality and patient safety and has received an “A” grade in hospital safety from the Leapfrog Group.

Learn more at dignityhealth.org/marianregional

About Dignity Health Central Coast

Seven award-winning hospitals comprise Dignity Health Central Coast: Arroyo Grande Community Hospital in Arroyo Grande, Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz, French Hospital Medical Center in San Luis Obispo, Marian Regional Medical Center in Santa Maria, Sequoia Hospital in Redwood City, St. John’s Regional Medical Center in Oxnard and St. John’s Hospital Camarillo, all recognized for their quality of care, safety, and service.

Additionally, Dignity Health Central Coast has a network of nearly 50 physician offices known as Pacific Central Coast Health Centers that include primary care, cancer care and various specialty offices. Dignity Health Central Coast also includes premier ambulatory surgery centers, technologically advanced imaging centers, outpatient services, and comprehensive home health services.

Learn more at dignityhealth.org/centralcoast