Wellness conference focuses on men’s health issues

How to Go

Championship Health — Men’s Wellness Conference

When: 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1

Where: Dave & Buster’s in Tri-County, 11775 Commons Drive, Cincinnati

Cost: Free, with breakfast and lunch provided

Register: Online at www.myprimaryhealthsolutions.org or www.healthcare-connection.org

More info: Call 513-454-1460 or 513-483-3081

Several health agencies have partnered to offer a first-of-its-kind men’s health conference for area residents.

“Men’s health in the community is not the best,” said Marc Bellisario, chief executive officer at Primary Health Solutions, a nonprofit health care provider in Hamilton and Middletown that is co-hosting the event. “There’s not a lot of opportunity for men to get together and get help.”

Bellisario said it can be “economically devastating” for a family if the father becomes ill. He said a lot of the illnesses and diseases that will be discussed at the conference are “preventable and can be lessened by early detection.”

The conference — called Championship Health Men’s Wellness Conference — will include free health screenings and 10-minute talks from physicians on topics such as heart disease, diabetes prevention, prostate cancer, colon cancer prevention, erectile dysfunction, and knee and hip replacements. There will also be time for questions and individual time with the presenting physicians.

The event will also feature five area sports figures, including Ron Oester, former second baseman for Cincinnati Reds, and Jim Breech, former kicker for Cincinnati Bengals, that will speak about their own health problems and answer questions from the audience.

“Men’s health in the greater Cincinnati area is deteriorating steadily, due to a lack of awareness, poor health, education and cultural behavior patterns in their work and personal lives,” according to a press release from Primary Health Solutions.

Set to take place Nov. 1, the conference coincides with the start of “Movember,” the month-long charity event where men take donations to grow a mustache to raise awareness and funds for male-related health issues. Supporters are expected to shave their face clean on Nov. 1 and grow out a mustache for the following 30 days.