February 2026 was the 10th consecutive year that faculty and staff from the WashU Medicine Cardiovascular Division have visited the Normandy School District to bring heart health education to middle school students. What began in 2016 as Dr. Linda Peterson’s vision to expand medical knowledge to students who might not otherwise have exposure to it has grown into a beloved annual tradition, known as Project Heartstrong. This educational community outreach effort is a meaningful investment in the health and futures of North St. Louis County youth.
This year’s visit to Normandy Middle School was especially memorable. To tie together February’s Heart Month and Black History Month recognitions, Dr. Angela Brown, developed a set of slides highlighting Black cardiologists who have made history in the field of cardiovascular medicine. The addition brought a new dimension to the presentation, and even included doctors who have studied and worked at WashU School of Medicine. Learning about careers in healthcare, and inspiring young people to follow careers in medicine is one of the goals of Project Heartstrong.
Another goal is teaching the students about heart health, through approachable and engaging anatomy and nutrition demonstrations. As in years past, the team brought interactive, student-centered lessons covering cardiovascular anatomy, the science of a healthy heart, food choices, and how daily habits impact long-term health. Sonographers demonstrated portable cardiac ultrasound equipment, giving students a real-time look at a beating heart, which is always a highlight of the visit.
This year, each student was given a stethoscope and got to listen to their own heartbeat. These tools were for the students to take home as hands-on keepsake, to continue exploring the sounds of the heart long after the lesson.
Over the past decade, Project Heartstrong has reached an estimated 1,500 or more students across multiple Normandy District schools. Dr. Peterson and the entire team are grateful to the school’s staff and administration for their continued partnership and enthusiasm, and look forward to many more years of building the next generation of heart-healthy and medically curious students!