Adventist Health System Sunbelt Healthcare Corporation
11/03/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 11/04/2026 11:52
AdventHealth celebrates pediatric heart patient’s recovery at Orion180 Tip-Off Classic
Jeremiyah Shepeard, who underwent emergency surgery for a rare congenital heart defect, reunited with his pediatric cardiologist, Anjlee Patel, MD, of the AdventHealth Pepin Heart Institute, to present the game ball at the 2026 Orion180 Tip-Off Classic.
TAMPA, Fla. - Tampa Bay area high school student Jeremiyah Shepeard never knew he had a rare congenital heart defect. That is, until he collapsed on the basketball court last year.
After undergoing emergency heart surgery, he became a patient of Anjlee Patel, MD, a pediatric cardiologist at the AdventHealth Pepin Heart Institute in Tampa. The two reunited on Monday, coming together for a pregame game ball presentation at the inaugural Orion180 Tip-Off Classic.
The event at Benchmark International Arena celebrated Jeremiyah's recovery alongside Dr. Patel and the AdventHealth Pepin Heart Institute team, while continuing to raise awareness about the importance of ECG screenings for student athletes, which are now required by Florida law.
AdventHealth, Visit Tampa Bay and the Tampa Bay Sports Commission are all official partners of The Orion180 Tip-Off Classic.
The Orion180 Tip-Off Classic opened the 2026-27 men's college basketball season with a doubleheader featuring the Florida Gators against the Miami Hurricanes, followed by the Florida State Seminoles against the Florida A&M Rattlers.
Learn more about ECGs for young athletes at AdventHealth for Children in Tampa, by clicking clicking hereclicking here.
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