Healthy Athletes in Idaho: A Year of Impact, Growth, and Partnerships
In 2025, Special Olympics Idaho made incredible progress in providing essential health services to athletes across the state. Through our Healthy Athletes® program, we delivered 360 free health screenings—giving athletes access to services they may not otherwise receive, while educating families, coaches, and communities about the importance of inclusive healthcare.
This year, we hosted Healthy Athletes screenings at our State Summer Games in Nampa in June 2025, as well as Special Smiles screenings in Eastern Idaho in September 2025. These events were powered by dedicated Clinical Directors, passionate volunteers, and strong community partnerships.
Our Clinical Directors & Disciplines
We are incredibly grateful for our Clinical Directors, who lead each discipline with expertise and heart:
Special Smiles – Dr. Brooke Fukuoka, the 2025 Golisano Health Leadership Award Winner, recognized for her outstanding commitment to improving health outcomes for people with intellectual disabilities. We were honored to present her award at our Gala in October.
Fun Fitness (Physical Therapy) – Dr. Teresa Prine, who guided athletes through strength, flexibility, and balance assessments, and provided individualized home exercises to support long-term wellness.
Healthy Hearing – Dr. Jess Stich-Hennen, who ensured athletes received high-quality hearing screenings, education, and referrals when needed.
MedFest (Sports Physicals) – Dr. Renee Walters, who provided comprehensive sports physicals to help athletes stay safe, active, and ready to compete.
Support From Community Partners
Our work would not be possible without the generosity of our medical volunteers and community partners. Volunteers from universities and organizations such as ICOM, Delta Dental, and Idaho State University, and many others came together to deliver meaningful, compassionate care to our athletes.
We are also grateful for grant funding from St. Luke’s and DentaQuest, which helped us purchase essential medical supplies—allowing our screenings to run smoothly, safely, and at no cost to athletes or families.
Ensuring Ongoing Care
Healthy Athletes doesn’t stop at screenings. When an athlete needs additional care—whether it’s a dental procedure, hearing evaluation, physical therapy follow-up, or a physician visit—we work directly with families and local providers to ensure athletes are connected to the follow-up care they need. This continuity of care is at the heart of our mission to improve long-term health outcomes.
Looking Ahead to 2026
Exciting things are ahead. Thanks to the continued support from Delta Dental, we are preparing to offer on-site dental cleanings at our State Summer Games in May 2026—a major step forward in expanding access to preventive dental care for our athletes.
