Living4Zachary in the February Plano Profile

Dr. Deepika Gopal, M.D., F.A.C.C., is the Director of Cardiac CT imaging at The HEART HOSPITAL Baylor Plano and a speaker for the American Heart Association. In the February Issue of Plano Profile Dr. Gopal assists in the awareness of SCA (Sudden Cardiac Awareness) and to aid in the Living4Zachary Foundation.

THE HEART HOSPITAL Baylor Plano and Dr. Gopal has taken on a mission and effort to offer awareness of the dangers of SCA in youth but offering cardiac screenings for youth ages 13-22 at a discounted rate of $100.00. These non covered by insurance screenings include a 12-lead ECG (electrocardiography) and limited 2-D echocardiogram. A 12-lead ECG and a 2-D limited echocardiogram also allow doctors to interpret other causes of SCA, like long QT syndrome and ventricular dysplasia.

Zachary Schrah had no known heart history or family history. He was a perfectly healthy young man who passed away April 2, 2009. It is known that SCA in athletes takes 200,000 to 300,000 lives a year in the United States, lives that could have been saved if known about any family history and had cardiac screening.


Living4Zarchary.org is a non-profit organization founded by Zachary’s Mom, Karen Schrah to raise awareness of SCA, especially in Youth and Athletes.

For additional information on cardiac screenings offered at THE HEART HOSPITAL Baylor Plano, call 1.800.4BAYLOR or visit baylorhealth.edu. For more information on Living for Zachary, call 214.673.3404 or visit living4zachary.org.