(L-R): Kevin M. Simon, MD, chief behavioral health officer, Boston Public Health Commission; Kwame Dance, PsyD, MBA, dean of health and wellness, Boston Arts Academy; Wes Woodson, author and keynote speaker; Frederica M. Williams, president and CEO of Whittier Street Health Center; DeShawn Gibbons, owner, Prove Them Wrong, and patient, Whittier Street Health Center; Marshall Simpson, patient, Whittier Street Health Center; and Keith D. Crawford, MD, PhD, director of clinical trials and education, Prostate Health Education Network (PHEN)
Whittier Street Health Center, a community health center with a mission to serve as a center of excellence that provides high quality and accessible health care and social services that achieve health equity, social justice, and the economic well-being of a diverse patient population, announces that its 22nd Annual Men’s Health Summit; Building Resiliency, Community, and Hope, held June 25th at the Center’s 1290 Tremont Street, Roxbury address, was a tremendous success.
The Summit addressed the timely and pertinent topic of men’s mental health in communities of color, with particular focus on the current state of youth mental health in the United States.
(L-R): Keith D. Crawford, MD, PhD, director of clinical trials and education, Prostate Health Education Network (PHEN); Nestor Castro, men’s health ambassador, Whittier Street Health Center; Frederica M. Williams, president and CEO of Whittier Street Health Center; Edward (Eddie) O. Owens, Jr., CPA, president and CEO, Owens Moving Company; Sean Ryan, Esq., partner, Husch Blackwell; and Michael Hunter, business development executive, Trinity Financial
The Summit highlighted the achievements of a diverse group of men, honored as 2022 Men’s Health Champions for their active role in furthering community health: Keith D. Crawford, MD, PhD, director of clinical trials and education, Prostate Health Education Network (PHEN); Edward (Eddie) O. Owens, Jr., CPA, president and CEO, Owens Moving Company; Michael Hunter, business development executive, Trinity Financial; Nestor Castro, men’s health ambassador, Whittier Street Health Center; and Sean Ryan, Esq., partner, Husch Blackwell.
Keynote speaker, Wes Woodson, author of I Have Anxiety (So What?), moved the audience as he shared his experience with mental illness and in doing so inspired others to feel more comfortable talking about mental health.
The program concluded with a panel discussion facilitated by Stephen Wright, MD, Medical Director, Whittier Street Health Center, addressing barriers to men seeking mental health treatment, including the traditional notions of masculinity and cultural stigma associated with mental health. This year’s panelists were: Keith D. Crawford, MD, PhD, director of clinical trials and education, Prostate Health Education Network (PHEN); Kevin M. Simon, MD, chief behavioral health officer, Boston Public Health Commission; Kwame Dance, PsyD, MBA, dean of health and wellness, Boston Arts Academy; DeShawn Gibbons, owner, Prove Them Wrong, patient, Whittier Street Health Center; and Marshall Simpson, patient, Whittier Street Health Center.
The panel discussion fostered open dialogue and served as a community forum to discuss men’s health and the needs of the community to help inform new programs, policy and innovative means to improve access to health care services for men.
The Summit aligns with Whittier Street Health Center’s vision to become an exceptional community health provider that addresses health care inequities, closes gaps in life expectancy, and pursues social justice.
“Open, honest, and genuine discussions were a highlight of this year’s Men’s Health Summit,” said Frederica M. Williams, president and CEO of Whittier Street Health Center, expressing gratitude to all the Center’s supporters “for your commitment to addressing health equity and building a healthy community, resiliency, and hope.”
About Whittier Street Health Center
Whittier Street Health Center is an independently licensed community health care center with a mission of providing high quality, reliable and accessible primary healthcare for diverse populations while promoting wellness and eliminating health and social disparities. A champion of equitable access to high quality, patient-focused care, social justice and economic equity, Whittier Street Health Center is accredited by The Joint Commission (TJC), certified by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) as a Patient-Centered Medical Home, and recognized by the NCQA for its Behavioral Health Integration. Through its locations in Roxbury and North Dorchester, and its Mobile Health Van program, Whittier Street Health Center serves more than 30,000 patients and 20,000 community outreach visits annually; its ethnically and racially diverse patient base is primarily made up of individuals from Roxbury, Dorchester, Jamaica Plain, the South End and greater Boston. Approximately 28% of Whittier’s patients are uninsured. Whittier Street Health Center provides a comprehensive array of 40 healthcare programs and services designed to meet the primary health care, behavioral health, and social needs of the community. For more information, please visit www.wshc.org as well as Facebook (www.facebook.com/WhittierStreetHealthCenter), Twitter (@Whittier_Boston), or LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/whittier-street-health-center), or call 617-989-3221.
