Congressional Men’s Health Caucus Convenes Inaugural Men’s Health Conference on Capitol Hill

WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-LA) and Congressman Rich McCormick (R-GA), Co-Chairs of the Congressional Men's Health Caucus, convened the inaugural Men's Health Conference in honor of Men's Health Month. This event was focused on advancing awareness and policy discussions surrounding men's mental health, preventative care, and chronic disease prevention.

The event brought together lawmakers, healthcare experts, patient advocates, and industry leaders to discuss critical health challenges facing men across the United States and explore opportunities to improve outcomes through education, early intervention, and access to care.

"I was proud to speak today at the inaugural Men's Health Conference. Men and young boys face unique challenges, and it takes a concerted, nationwide effort to ensure that we can break the stigma around both the mental and physical health of men everywhere," said Rep. McCormick. "Honored to work with Reps. Troy Carter, Ted Lieu, Neal Dunn on these issues to assure that we are meeting the needs of men everywhere."

The conference was led by Caucus Co-Chairs Congressman Rich McCormick (R-GA) and Congressman Troy Carter (D-LA), alongside Vice-Chairs Congressman Ted Lieu (D-CA), Congressman Robert Menendez (D-NJ), and Congressman Neal Dunn (R-FL). The breadth of bipartisan leadership on display underscored the Caucus's commitment to making men's health a shared national priority, regardless of party affiliation. The Caucus consists of 33 Members from both sides of the aisle.

"I was proud to host the inaugural Men's Health Conference dedicated to reducing stigma and changing the conversation around men's healthcare," said Rep. Carter. "This conference isn't just about improving men's personal outcomes - it's about breaking harmful habits, making informed decisions, and prioritizing health in a way that protects not just individuals but the whole community."

"The Men's Health Network is deeply grateful for the continuing work of the Congressional Men's Health Caucus. We know the importance of the work being done by the Caucus," said Ronald Henry, President of Men's Health Network. "We look at the advances in women's longevity not in competition but in admiration. The gains in women's longevity give hope for similar advances for men. Too many American men are still dying too young and that hurts all of us. Not only the men themselves, but also the wives, daughters, sons and sisters who love them, the employers who lose productive workers, and the communities which lose the men's contributions as taxpayers and as community builders. Going all the way back to the Congressional enactment of Men's Health Week in 1994, members of Congress have worked to bring visibility to the health needs of men. We have had the privilege of providing expertise and educational materials to the Congressional Men's Health Caucus to support its mission since the inception of the Caucus and the progress being made by the Caucus is both an inspiration and a service to the nation."

"As a physician, I have seen firsthand how my patients, especially men, delay care because they ignore symptoms or feel stigma about asking for and receiving help," said Costas Kefalas, MD, MMM, MS-PopH, FACG, President-elect of the American College of Gastroenterology. "For colorectal cancer and so many other health conditions, and especially during Men's Health Month, it's crucial to meet men where they are and focus on the power of screening, prevention, and making healthy choices. ACG is grateful to Rep. Carter, Rep. McCormick, and the entire bipartisan Congressional Men's Health Caucus for advancing these goals."

"Too many men are facing a mental health crisis," said Michael Linskey, Director of Congressional Affairs at the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). "NAMI is grateful to the Congressional Men's Health Caucus and its Co-Chairs, Representatives Carter and McCormick, for holding this important conversation on how to find solutions to address men's mental health."

"Movember was proud to join the Bipartisan Men's Health Caucus and health leaders on Capitol Hill to put men's health on the national agenda. Too many men are dying too young from preventable causes, and conversations like these are how we change that, through early intervention, open dialogue, and real investment in men's mental and physical health," said Travis Garone, Co-Founder, Movember.

"Healthcare must include mental health healthcare. Men are often less likely to identify their own mental health needs and less likely to seek mental healthcare as compared to women. At the same time, our mental health care programs tend to be much less inviting towards men. The result is significant unmet mental healthcare needs in men. And these unmet needs have an impact not just on men themselves, but on their families. Developing more effective and wide reaching strategies to support the mental health of men will have a positive impact on men and families everywhere," said Dr. Matthew Biel, M.D., Georgetown University.

The conference featured two focused panel discussions, each exploring a critical dimension of the men's health crisis.

Panel One: Men's Mental Health & Wellness
Moderated by Tim Gnaeswara, U.S. Director of Movember, the first panel confronted the cultural stigma that continues to prevent men from seeking mental health support and explored both community-based and policy-driven solutions. Panelists included:

Vikrum Ingle, Group Product Director, Johnson & Johnson
Michael Linskey, Director of Government Relations, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
Ronald Henry, CEO and President, Men's Health Network
Basharat Khan, Men's Health Director, Movember
Dr. Matthew Biel, M.D., Georgetown University

Panelists examined the unique barriers men face in accessing mental health care, the importance of building a diverse mental health workforce, and concrete legislative pathways - including the the Mental Health Workforce Act - to close the gap.

Panel Two: The Importance of Preventive Screenings
Moderated by Dr. Costas Kefalas of the American College of Gastroenterology, the second panel focused on the life-saving power of early detection and the policy barriers that continue to leave too many men - particularly men of color - unscreened and underserved. Panelists included:

Dr. James Hobley, American College of Gastroenterology
Dr. Diah Douglas, M.D., Senior Medical Director, Lantheus
Rodney Gillespie, Senior Vice President, Novartis
Dr. Mark Edney, M.D., American Urological Association
Dr. Eduardo Sanchez, Chief Medical Officer for Prevention, American Heart Association

Discussion centered on prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, and heart disease as well as priority legislation including the State of Men's Health Act and PSA Screening for HIM Act.

Background:
The bipartisan Men's Health Caucus is dedicated to raising awareness about men's health issues, encouraging men and boys to take an active role in their personal health, and promoting legislation that will improve the health and well-being of men, boys, and their families.

The Caucus focuses on topics including mental health care, prostate cancer screening, traumatic brain injury, and urological health issues. The Caucus will continue these efforts to educate Congress and the public about important topics in men's health.