MetroHealth Hosts Successful 2023 Minority Men's Health Fair

MetroHealth today welcomed more than 700 individuals to this year’s Minority Men’s Health Fair – an annual event designed to address disproportionate rates of disease in minority communities through free health screenings and education.

This year’s fair took place at three MetroHealth locations: Main Campus, Cleveland Heights Medical Center and Ohio City Health Center. It offered education and more than 30 free screenings for issues prevalent in minority men, including prostate cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, skin cancer, mental health concerns and other conditions. Though the event was geared toward men of color, all were welcome.

“I am confident this event saved lives,” said Charles Modlin, MD, the health fair’s founder and MetroHealth’s Medical Director of Equity, Inclusion and Diversity. “The Minority Men’s Health Fair empowers men to know their risks and take control of their health so they can live life to the fullest.”

Among the many sponsors who helped make this year’s Minority Men’s Health Fair a success were First Energy Foundation, Saint Luke’s Foundation and KeyBank. They were joined by dozens of community partners who set up tables to offer health-related education and services. In addition, several hundred volunteers from MetroHealth and the community made the event possible.

James Elder, 66, of Cleveland Heights, attended his first Minority Men’s Health Fair.

“I knew about it for a while, and this year was the first time I decided that I’d better show up,” he said.

Elder, who was in the long line to get checked in at the MetroHealth Cleveland Heights Medical Center, said he wanted to get as many health screenings as he could. “I want to find out how healthy I am, or if there’s any issues I need to know about.”

Twinsburg resident Ben Collins attended the fair at the Ohio City Health Center. 

“I'm going on 52 yrs old and wanted to make sure everything was OK with my health,” Collins said. "You don't always know what's going on in your body. I want to stay on top of my health. Everybody was nice, everybody was helpful. It was a good experience. I come every year (to the fair)."

Building upon the success of the Minority Men’s Health Fair, MetroHealth will for the first time host a Minority Women’s Health Expo on September 30 at the Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland.

“Every person – regardless of their skin color, where they live or their economic circumstances – deserves to have a chance at a long, healthy life,” said MetroHealth President & CEO Airica Steed, Ed.D, RN, MBA. “At MetroHealth, we are committed to giving a voice to the voiceless and ensuring everyone is empowered to advocate for their own health needs. These events are among the many ways MetroHealth is working tirelessly to eradicate health disparities and advance equity in the communities we serve.”

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