Wednesday Post-Conference Workshop: Building a Men's Health Practice. A Strong Foundation in Lifestyle Medicine
In this workshop, we will examine the health disparities affecting men – including the notable gender gap in longevity – and explore how evidence-based lifestyle medicine strategies can be applied to address these disparities within men’s health practice. Participants will hear from experts in the field and see real-world examples of programs designed to educate them on how to talk to men about their health and understand what men prioritize about their health. Men face a significant “gender gap” in health outcomes and longevity compared to their female counterparts. Men die at higher rates from 9 out of the 10 leading causes of death and have higher lifetime risk for heart disease, cancer, diabetes and HIV/AIDS. Men suffer more deaths of despair, including those caused by alcoholism, overdose and suicide despite being less likely to be diagnosed with depression. Minority men suffer disproportionately from chronic disease as the result of the combined effects of race, ethnicity and gender-based discrimination. African American men have the worst health outcomes of any gender-ethnic group in the Unites States and are affected by violence and incarceration at alarming rates. Most striking is the growing gender gap in longevity with men living over 5 years fewer than women. Despite these well described disparities, the US healthcare system has been slow to respond, and the US currently lacks a national health policy for men. A survey of the top 50 hospitals for urology in the US News and World Report rankings revealed that only 16 of the top 50 programs offered some form of a men’s health center, while 49 out of 50 offered a women’s health center. Of the 16 centers offering some form of men’s health, only 4 provided primary care services such as treatment for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, musculoskeletal injuries or preventive care. Research is lacking, and there are only 6 journals indexed in MEDLINE dedicated to men’s health as compared to 62 journals dedicated to women’s health. A PubMed search of papers and abstracts from 1970 to 2018 showed that the term “men’s health” has been used 1,555 times, whereas the term “women’s health” has been used 14,501 times. A coordinated public health policy to address these disparities is absent, and a federally funded office of men’s health does not currently exist. Efforts to address these health disparities must acknowledge that male gender, including male social roles, norms of masculinity and patterns of healthcare utilization are greater determinants of health than male sex. We know that men are more likely to engage in risk-taking behaviors, use substances and consume unhealthy foods, and are less likely to seek preventive health services. We also know that men are more likely to engage with health information when it is customized to their specific needs and preferences. Creating a model of healthcare delivery that acknowledges the important social determinants of a man’s health and creates gender specific messaging around healthy lifestyle interventions is essential to improving the health of individual men and the health of their families and communities.
Learning Objectives
- Analyze disparities in health outcomes and longevity that men face.
- Effectively advocate for the integration of men’s health and wellness education into the training of men’s healthcare providers.
- Critically evaluate diverse strategies for engaging men in conversations about their health.
- Analyze real-world men’s health implementations strategies as demonstrated at MSU Denver and Meharry Medical College Nashville.
- Design a detailed blueprint for healthcare providers to establish a successful men’s health practice, incorporating evidence-based healthy lifestyle counseling strategies tailored to men’s unique health needs and preferences.
- Mark R. Paulos, MD, DipABLM
- Steven M. Rissman, ND
- Kevin L. Billups, MD
Available Credit
- 3.00 AAFP Prescribed
The AAFP has reviewed Wednesday Post-Conference Workshop: Building a Men's Health Practice. A Strong Foundation in Lifestyle Medicine and deemed it acceptable for up to 3.00 Enduring Materials, Self-Study AAFP Prescribed credit(s). Term of Approval is from 11/15/2025 to 1/15/2026. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
- 3.00 ABLM MOC
The American Board of Lifestyle Medicine has approved 3.00 maintenance of certification credits (MOC) for this learning activity.
- 3.00 ABS Accredited CME
Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the learner to earn credit toward the CME of the American Board of Surgery’s Continuous Certification program. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit learner completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABS credit.
- 3.00 ACPE Pharmacy
Rush University Medical Center designates this knowledge-based Enduring material for a maximum of 3.00 contact hour(s) for pharmacists.
- 3.00 ACPE Technician
Rush University Medical Center designates this knowledge-based Enduring material for a maximum of 3.00 contact hour(s) for pharmacy technicians.
- 3.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
Rush Medical Center designates this Enduring material for a maximum of 3.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
- 3.00 ANCC
Rush University Medical Center designates this Enduring material for a maximum of 3.00 nursing contact hour(s).
- 3.00 APA
Rush University Medical Center designates this Enduring material for 3.00 CE credits in psychology. Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship in the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP Office maintains responsibility for the content of the programs.
- 3.00 ASWB
As a Jointly Accredited Organization, Rush University Medical Center is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved continuing education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. Social workers completing this course receive 3.00 general continuing education credits.
- 3.00 Attendance
Successful completion of this course activity, including active participation in the evaluation component, entitles the learner to receive a participation certificate from ACLM. Please note that this certificate is offered solely in recognition of engagement, and no academic or professional credit is awarded.
- 3.00 CPEU
This Enduring material has been approved by the Commission on Dietetic Registration. Completion of this activity awards 3.00 CPEUs.
- 3.00 Occupational Therapy CE
Rush University Medical Center is an approved provider for physical therapy (216.000378) and occupational therapy (224.000220) by the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation. Rush University Medical Center designates this Enduring material for 3.00 continuing education credits.
- 3.00 Participation (AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ for non-MDs)
Rush University Medical Center designates this Enduring material for a maximum of 3.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
- 3.00 Physical Therapy CE
Rush University Medical Center is an approved provider for physical therapy (216.000378) and occupational therapy (224.000220) by the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation. Rush University Medical Center designates this Enduring material for 3.00 continuing education credits.

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