Sam Dillman, MD, is helping to address health gaps for children with intellectual disabilities through early intervention and community-based care as a volunteer medical director with Special Olympics.
On a cold February afternoon in Madison, a group of UW Health pediatric emergency clinicians counted down beside the icy waters of Lake Wingra — and jumped in.
While the dive into the 30-degree water lasted only a few seconds, it supported ongoing programs that help children across Wisconsin thrive and find community.
The annual Polar Plunge raises funds for Special Olympics Wisconsin to provide year-round sports activities and health services for children and adults with intellectual disabilities in the state. One hundred percent of funds raised support Wisconsin residents. The event is part of Special Olympics’ global movement to expand access to programs that promote health, inclusion and belonging through the transformative power and joy of sports.
Among those taking the plunge was Dr. Sam Dillman, a pediatric emergency physician at UW Health and clinical assistant professor of emergency medicine at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. Dillman helped organize a team of colleagues to participate in the fundraising event. He says the shock of the icy water was a small price to pay to support a local organization he has come to care deeply about.
“Special Olympics Wisconsin is doing incredible work to support inclusive health,” Dillman said. “Participating in events like the Polar Plunge is a small but meaningful way to help sustain its athlete programs, as well as extensive programming in health, education and community building.”
Turning clinical insight into community action
At UW Health, Dillman cares for sick and injured children in the pediatric emergency department at American Family Children’s Hospital, where families arrive during some of their most stressful moments.
Among his patients are children with intellectual and developmental disabilities who may face additional challenges accessing routine health care, specialized services or adequate community support to live healthy, fulfilling lives.
Seeing those gaps firsthand helped shape Dillman’s interest in expanding health care access beyond the hospital — work he now pursues through Special Olympics Wisconsin, where he has served on the board of directors for more than two years. In that role, he contributes to organizational leadership while also volunteering at events and helping guide health-focused programming for children and young athletes.
His involvement also directly draws on his expertise as a pediatrician.
Dillman was recently appointed medical director for the Special Olympics Healthy Young Athletes program in Wisconsin, a national initiative focused on pediatric developmental health that is expected to launch in the state this fall. The program is made possible by the Golisano Foundation in collaboration with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Healthy Young Athletes provides free health screenings, education and referrals in areas like vision, hearing, dental care, physical therapy and mental health for children ages 2 to 7, with and without intellectual disabilities. Screenings can help identify health concerns that might otherwise go unnoticed and benefit from early intervention.
“The early years are critical for all children, but particularly for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities,” Dillman said. “Early identification and connection to care can help prevent some health issues from escalating and reduce avoidable emergency visits later on.”
The program complements primary care by offering an additional review of health and development in places like schools, community settings and at Special Olympics events — helping reach families where they already gather, including families who may lack access to primary care.
If concerns are identified during screenings, families are connected with local providers, community services and education resources for follow-up and continued support.
Programs like Healthy Young Adults can help address health disparities, Dillman said. According to Special Olympics, children with intellectual and developmental disabilities are significantly more likely to experience certain conditions, including vision problems that occur about 10 times more often and hearing impairment that is more than 20 times more likely than in the general population.
As medical director, Dillman is helping to coordinate the program’s launch, recruit volunteers, organize events and establish referral pathways for families to access additional services when needed.
“Healthy Young Athletes creates a space where families can talk about their child’s development and concerns in a supportive environment where the child also feels comfortable,” Dillman said. “From there, we can help identify issues early and connect families with the appropriate care and resources they need to support their child’s growth and well-being.”
Creating belonging through sport and health
Special Olympics programs combine sports training with health services and community engagement, helping athletes build confidence, friendships and lifelong skills.
Through his work with the organization, Dillman has built relationships with Special Olympics Wisconsin athletes and families. He says those relationships are personally meaningful and reflect his broader goal as a pediatric physician: improving health while creating spaces where children and families feel seen and supported.
“Belonging plays a meaningful role in physical and mental health, especially for individuals who may face barriers to optimal care,” Dillman said. “When children feel supported and have safe spaces to engage with peers and mentors, it can make a real difference in their overall well-being.”
He said programs like Healthy Young Athletes expand access to care by connecting families with screenings and services early in a child’s life, while also giving children opportunities to build confidence, stay active and bond with others through play and shared experiences. Fundraisers like the Polar Plunge help make those programs possible.
Dillman hopes others will consider getting involved with Special Olympics in Wisconsin or in their own communities by donating, volunteering or joining the Polar Plunge next year.
“Addressing critical health needs early and changing the life trajectories of children with intellectual disabilities is work I’m proud to support,” he said.
The content of this story is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of Special Olympics, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the Department of Health and Human Services.