On Thursday, October 16, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz and Special Assistant to the Borough President Yvonne Graham kicked off the seventh annual “Take Your Man to the Doctor” event with free health screenings at Borough Hall. The “Take Your Man to the Doctor” and “Because” campaigns are year-round calls to action for men of all ages, ethnicities, and economic levels to regularly visit a doctor, and for the women and men who love them to help make it happen.

BP Markowitz was joined at the event by participating “Take Your Man” partners: the New York City Department of Health, Beth Israel Medical Center, The Brooklyn Hospital, Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center, Interfaith Medical Center, Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center, Kings County Hospital Center, Long Island College Hospital, Lutheran Medical Center, Maimonides Medical Center, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, University Hospital of Brooklyn, Woodhull Medical Center, Wyckoff Heights Medical Center, MetroPlus Health Plan, Pfizer, and Preferred Health Partners.

Also helping to get out the message were Miss Brooklyn Plus 2008 Chandra Rushmore, who took her friend, Sherwin Waldron, to the doctor; friends Alana Arqueno, 84, and Ramon DeLeon, 91, of the Wyckoff Senior Center; Joe Rizzi of the Federation of Italian Americans; and students from the High School for Medical Professions in Canarsie along with Principal Joe Scarmato. Dr. Lesly Kernisant, president and CEO, Preferred Health Partners, and Gail Smith, chief customer officer, MetroPlus Health Partners, also addressed the gathering.

From 11 a.m. until 2 p.m., participating Brooklyn hospitals, clinics, and healthcare professionals offered free screenings for blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, glucose, glaucoma and other conditions, along with other important health information available onsite.

Last year, BP Markowitz unveiled the “Because” campaign emphasizing all the reasons to “take your man to the doctor.” Why? Because men are at very high risk of diseases like cancer, heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes—yet they are only half as likely as women to have a personal physician.

In 2006, BP Markowitz learned firsthand the importance of regular checkups, early detection and preventative care when he experienced chest pains that resulted in an operation to insert a “stent.” He finally went to the hospital only after his wife Jamie insisted.

“Take your man to the doctor,” implores BP Markowitz. “That means your husband, your father, your brother, your son, your uncle, your friend, or your significant other. We don’t care how you do it—treat him to a special meal at home or at one of Brooklyn’s renowned eateries, nag him, drag him, cajole him, entice him—just get him to a doctor. Remember, if you do, he will live to love you longer.”