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BOROUGH PRESIDENT MARKOWITZ ANNOUNCES TAKE YOUR MAN TO THE DOCTOR WEEK – HE’LL LIVE TO LOVE YOU LONGER!

Photographs by Kathryn Kirk

In photo: Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz launches “Take Your Man to the Doctor Week – He’ll Live to Love You Longer.” Free screenings and health information will be available at participating Brooklyn hospitals and healthcare providers from October 4 – October 10.

Goal is to get every Brooklyn man to see a health care provider

Borough President Marty Markowitz, close to thirty Brooklyn hospitals and health care providers along with Best of Brooklyn, Inc., announced Take Your Man to the Doctor Week, an innovative public health campaign that will launch during the week of October 4 – 10. Take Your Man to the Doctor Week, in its second year, is a call to action for men of all ages, ethnicities, and social standing to regularly visit a doctor and for the women who love them to make it happen. There is a huge disparity in doctor visitation between men and women, and statistics show that men are more likely to visit with the encouragement of a loved one. Today is also National Take a Loved One to the Doctor Day.

“Last year, our Take Your Man to the Doctor campaign inspired me and many other men to go to a doctor regularly,” said Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz. “My wife, Jamie, made the first appointment for me and scheduled herself a check up, as well. Then it occurred to me that if all the women in Brooklyn did the same for the men in their lives - and we know there is no more persuasive group than Brooklyn women - their determination would help ensure healthier Brooklyn men. Last year’s campaign was a huge success; our hospitals and health providers worked together, providing over 2,200 men with free health screenings during a one week period as well as offering vital healthcare information. Let’s make this year’s campaign even better!”

Studies show that some of the largest areas of growth in illness are occurring in men. Many men do not get checked for cancer and other conditions for a multitude of reasons, including fear of screening procedures, cultural/gender pressures to show strength, lack of information about the availability of primary and preventative health care and an inability to pay for health care. The benefits are priceless – it will hopefully establish a regular pattern of medical care and develop a long-term relationship with a medical provider, foster prevention and early detection of disease and appropriate treatment of medical issues.

“The Brooklyn District Public Health Office of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is pleased to support the Borough President's Take Your Man to the Doctor campaign again this year,” said Adam Karpati, Assistant Commissioner, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Brooklyn District Public Health Office. “Even as the health of Brooklyn's residents has steadily improved, with increasing life expectancy and better quality of life for those with chronic illness, there remain many illnesses and premature deaths that can be prevented by high-quality medical care. The ten items on the Health Department's "Take Care New York" list of health priorities, including screening for breast, cervical, and colon cancer, smoking cessation, and flu immunizations are all highly effective strategies that will allow Brooklynites to enjoy longer, healthier lives.”

“Healthfirst works to strengthen and support the community it serves in every way,” said George Hulse, Vice President of External Affairs at Healthfirst. “By partnering with the Brooklyn Borough President's Office and some of the top hospitals and medical centers in and around Brooklyn, Healthfirst is proud to be a part of this important initiative. Healthfirst encourages all New Yorkers to take their man, child, parent, or other to the doctor, establishing a regular pattern of preventive care, which in the end, leads to a healthier community overall!”

“Pfizer is proud to partner with the Brooklyn Borough President and the local healthcare leaders in support of this important initiative,” said Tom Farina, District Sales Manager for Pfizer Inc. “Together we share a deep-rooted commitment toward improving healthcare in the Brooklyn communities.”

“Kingsbrook is proud to be a partner in this year’s Take Your Man to the Doctor initiative,” said Harry Schiffman, Director of Government & Community Relations for Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center. “Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center has been a healthcare provider and community partner to the diverse communities of Central Brooklyn for close to 80 years. We are proud to collaborate with both Community Board #9 and the Brooklyn AIDS Task Force in this initiative as we seek to continue our efforts to eradicate disease, and foster a better quality of life for all of the residents of Brooklyn.”

“We are delighted to participate in this project,” said Dr. Martin Valdes, Vice President of Finance for Central Brooklyn Medical Group, P.C. “We look forward to reaching a population, namely men, who may be at risk for a number of medical conditions and traditionally do not visit the doctor for preventive screening tests.”

Speakers at today’s event included Deputy Borough President Yvonne Graham, Deputy Director of Brooklyn District Public Health Office for NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Christina Larkin, Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center Director of Government & Community Relations Harry Schiffman, Vice President of Finance for Central Brooklyn Medical Group, P.C. Dr. Martin Valdes, Healthfirst Vice President of External Affairs George Hulse and District Sales Manager, Pfizer Inc. David White.

Call 718-802-3875 or log onto www.brooklyn-usa.org for a complete listing of free health screening services and all participating hospitals, health centers, clinics and physician’s offices.

All Take Your Man to the Doctor participants will be eligible for a number of great prizes including a romantic night for two at the Brooklyn Marriott, tickets to the new Broadway show, “Brooklyn the Musical,” and $25 gift certificates to the Brooklyn Tourism and Visitor’s Center gift shop as well as free t-shirts, mugs, hats and more.

Take Your Man to the Doctor is being sponsored by Healthfirst, Pfizer, Central Brooklyn Medical Group, Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center, New York Methodist Hospital, Interfaith Medical Center, Coney Island Hospital, Wyckoff Heights Medical Center, Kings County Hospital, Lutheran Medical Center, Woodhull Medical Center, Beth Israel Kings Highway Division, Long Island College Hospital, Brookdale University Hospital Medical Center, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn Hospital Center, Maimonides Medical Center, Victory Memorial Hospital, Courier Life Publications, ICL Healthcare Choices, First Med Care, Advanced Family Medical, Caribbean Women’s Health Association, Levit Medical Arts Pavilion, Lyndon Baines Johnson Health Complex, Bedford Stuyvesant Family Health Center, Brooklyn Plaza Medical Center, Brownsville Multi-Service Center, Family Services Network of New York, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield and Metro Plus.