Albany Standard

Phoebe issued the following announcement on June 10. 

Phoebe will hold its annual Men’s Health Fair on Saturday, June 18, from 8 a.m. to noon on Albany State University’s East Campus in the Billy C. Black Auditorium in Albany.

For the second year in a row, the theme of the event will be “Shop Talk.” The intent of the theme is to mirror that of a barber shop – giving attendees the chance to interact with healthcare experts and discuss common health conditions in a comfortable setting. The barber shop theme began in 2021 and was designed to help break communication barriers men sometimes have when it comes to talking about their health.

“A lot gets talked about at the barber shop,” said Darrell Sabbs, Community Benefits Director, Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital. “Men aren’t afraid to talk in that environment. With the help of local barber shop owners, we are able to bring the barber shop to our men’s health fair and open that line of communication with health experts.”

Healthcare experts will discuss not only common health conditions affecting men but also prostate cancer, lung cancer and sickle cell disease. This year’s “Shop Talk” panel includes:

• Dr. Derek Heard, Phoebe Primary Care Physician
• Dr. James Black, Phoebe Emergency Medicine Medical Director
• Dr. Adam Jones, Radiation Oncologist
• Dr. Brian Rivers, Morehouse School of Medicine, and
• Dr. James Richardson, Peach State Health Plan Chief Medical Director.

In addition to the “Shop Talk,” attendees will be offered free COVID-19 vaccines, as well as free health screenings for blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol and prostate from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Flint River Fresh will also be at the event passing out free watermelons.

This year’s Men’s Health Fair is being held in partnership with Albany State University, Morehouse School of Medicine and Peach State Health Plan.

“Peach State Health Plan is honored to partner with Phoebe Putney Memorial Health in this beneficial effort to educate, support and engage with our communities,” said Dr. Richardson, Chief Medical Director of Peach State Health Plan. “The comfortable and welcoming environment of the event provides participants an opportunity to freely ask questions about their health and why it’s important to have screening exams. I’m looking forward to participating again this year.”

Original source can be found here.