Across the country, men are less likely than women to go to the doctor.
That holds true in Northeast Ohio, said Dr. Randy Vince, a urologic oncologist and the director of the Minority Men’s Health at the Cutler Center for Men at University Hospitals.
“We did some polling and some research, and what we found is that approximately 50% of men in Northeast Ohio don’t have a primary care physician,” Vince said.
On average across the U.S., men die five years earlier than women, the hospital said.
Vince wants to change that narrative by bringing an event to Cleveland this weekend: the Men’s Full-Life Fitness Summit at the Huntington Convention Center.
The event will have free health screenings and informational panels about everything from heart health to financial well-being to strengthening relationships. The effort is meant to engage more men in conversations about overall health and wellbeing.
“There’s so many different issues that impact the man’s overall livelihood, right?” Vince said. “So, you know, if you live in poverty, you’re less likely to seek health care or have access to health care. … All of these things are interconnected.”
University Hospitals Cutler Center for Men, which is hosting the summit, has a facility focused on men’s health care and patient navigation staff who act as men’s health care guides.
“Men seem to be, you know, kind of lagging far behind,” Vince said. “And so the thought was, you know, if we start to really improve and empower the lives of men, what impact would that have on our communities and the future generations?”
The summit will run from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday at the Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland. It is free to attend. Registration beforehand is encouraged but not required. Free breakfast and lunch is included. Register at this link.
What to expect at the Men’s Summit
Men — and others — who attend Saturday will hear from local elected leaders, doctors, chefs and pastors.
Dr. David Margolius, Cleveland’s director of public health, and Cleveland City Council President Blaine Griffin will share updates on the current state of men’s health in Cleveland. There will be sessions on heart health, spinal health, healthy eating and fitness.
Other sessions focus on less traditional areas of health care. LaRese Purnell, owner of a local accounting firm, will share financial advice. Carmen Scott, a local estate lawyer, will give insight into how men can protect and pass on their wealth through real estate.
One set of sessions will focus on fostering healthy relationships with romantic partners, kids and others.
“As a man myself, like, those are things that I know are really crucial in terms of my overall well-being,” Vince said. “If me and my wife are in a good spot and, you know, that relationship is thriving, it gives me an actual little pep in my step. Same thing if I know my kids are doing well.”
There will also be free health screenings for blood sugar levels and cholesterol levels and, importantly, prostate cancer. Black men are twice as likely to die from prostate cancer as their white counterparts. So Vince said he and the Cutler Center, through events like the men’s summit, hope to make screening more accessible.
“If we have men come in and they’re engaged socially, they’re more likely to come back,” Vince said.