Today we’d like to introduce you to David Kuluva.
Hi David, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I joined my current business partner, Eric Schroeder, in the very early stages of My HeartCheck. The concept was already there, but the business was still in its infancy. We both believed there was a real need for families to have easier access to more complete heart testing for their kids.
Most parents don’t realize that a child can look healthy, feel healthy, pass a routine physical, and still have an underlying heart condition. That was the gap we wanted to help fill.
From there, it was a lot of figuring things out as we went — building relationships with schools, pediatric offices, sports organizations, and community partners who believed in the mission. We had to earn trust, educate families, and make the process as simple and affordable as possible.
Over time, My HeartCheck has grown well beyond where it started. We now provide preventative youth heart screenings in multiple states, and we’ve been fortunate to work with incredible partners, including Strive for Life Foundation and other organizations that help fund screenings for families.
The business has changed and grown, but the reason behind it has stayed the same: helping identify hidden heart conditions in kids before they become emergencies.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Definitely not. The biggest challenge by far was COVID.
At that time, we were doing most of our HeartCheck screenings in schools. When schools shut down, and then later became very cautious about allowing outside organizations in, it brought that part of our business almost to a standstill. We had built a model that was working well, and then overnight, the places where we were primarily serving families were no longer an option.
It forced us to rethink how we operated and where we could hold screenings. We started working more with pediatric offices, community organizations, and other local partners, which has ultimately helped us grow in new ways. But getting through that period was difficult. There was a lot of uncertainty, and we had to work hard to rebuild momentum once things started opening back up.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My HeartCheck provides preventative heart screenings for kids and young adults, typically ages 8 to 25. Each screening includes an EKG, an echocardiogram, blood pressure, and a cardiologist review of the results.
What really sets us apart is that we don’t stop with an EKG. An EKG is valuable, but it mainly looks at the heart’s electrical system. It can help identify things like abnormal rhythms, Long QT syndrome, and Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. The echocardiogram looks at the actual structure and function of the heart, which opens the door to finding many more concerns — things like valve abnormalities, thickened heart muscle, chamber enlargement, septal defects, aortic issues, and certain coronary artery concerns that an EKG may not reveal.
That matters because some of the most serious heart conditions in kids are silent. A child can look healthy, feel healthy, and pass a routine physical, while still having an underlying issue that no one knows about. We want families to have access to a more complete picture.
I’m especially proud that we’ve built My HeartCheck around both quality and access. We’ve screened more than 19,000 kids and partnered with schools, pediatric offices, athletic organizations, foundations, and communities across several states. Our goal has always been to make this kind of testing easier for families to get — without needing symptoms, a referral, or a long hospital process.
Our work has also grown beyond screenings. We help provide AEDs to school districts and other organizations, and we offer an AED tracking system that helps several organizations, including school districts, keep up with inspections, readiness, and ongoing maintenance. To us, it all connects back to the same mission: helping communities be more prepared to protect young hearts.
At the end of the day, we want readers to know that My HeartCheck is about helping find hidden heart conditions before they become emergencies, while also helping the places kids learn, play, and gather be better prepared if an emergency ever does happen. That’s what drives us, and that’s what we’re most proud of.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
I’d probably say persistence. I’m not someone who gives up easily when I believe in something, and I believe deeply in what we do.
A lot of this work has been about continuing to knock on doors, continuing to educate people, and continuing to build relationships even when the answer isn’t always yes right away. Whether it’s reaching out to a school, a pediatric office, or a community partner, I’ve learned that meaningful things often take time.
I also care a lot about doing things the right way and treating people well. I think that combination — persistence, sincerity, and truly believing in the mission — has played a big role in any success I’ve had.
Pricing:
- A My HeartCheck screening is $179 and includes an EKG, echocardiogram, blood pressure check, and cardiologist review.
- This same type of testing can often cost $1,500 or more in a hospital setting and would require a physician referral based on symptoms that are often not there.
- Through partnerships with Strive for Life, The Jordan Robert Mann Foundation, and many other community partners, some HeartCheck events are partially or fully funded. Wherever we test, financial aid is available to help reduce the cost for families, with screenings offered for as little as $19 for qualifying families.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://myheartcheck.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myheartcheck/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MyHeartCheck
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@myheartcheckathletictestin9425
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@myheartcheck
