Joseph P. Addabbo Family Health Center Hosts Successful Men’s Health Summit to Close the Empathy Gap

Queens, NY — On Wednesday, June 25, the Joseph P. Addabbo Family Health Center (JPAFHC) welcomed Southeast Queens and Rockaway community members to its 2025 Men’s Health Summit: Power of Wellness. Held at the Community Health Education & Training Center at JPAFHC Annex in Arverne, the event was a powerful call to action to recognize National Men’s Health Month and this year’s theme—Closing the Empathy Gap.

Throughout the afternoon, attendees had access to free health screenings, insurance assistance, fitness activities, and wellness conversations. Health professionals were on hand to provide prostate cancer, and blood pressure screenings, HIV testing, plus discuss common but preventable issues affecting men’s long-term health outcomes.

Dr. Ari Benjamin, Chief Medical Officer at JPAFHC and moderator of the event’s panel discussion, stressed the importance of breaking longstanding barriers in men’s care. “We know that men put off going to the doctor until something feels wrong—often too late,” Dr. Benjamin said. “This summit was about normalizing preventive care and creating a safe space for open conversations around physical, oral and mental health. Early intervention saves lives, and events like this help bring that message home.”

Damian Henry, a patient of JPAFHC, offered participants a first-hand account of the challenge of battling prostate cancer. His cancer diagnosis came after a routine physical exam expanded to a prostate exam based on a medical judgment from Dr. Oguagha. Henry’s age, 37, put him outside of the typical prostate screening age, which starts at 40. Thankfully, early detection through imaging and a biopsy enabled him to get the treatment he needed to best fight the disease.

The event also featured Dr. Alan Friedman, Dr. Ifeanyi Oguagha, and Davond A. Motes of The Academy Charter School as panelists. Renee Hastick-Motes, MPA, CEO of JPAFHC, noted the broader impact of the day.

“We are incredibly proud to bring together local leaders, healthcare experts, and community members to focus on men’s health, an often-overlooked issue with life-altering consequences,” Hastick-Motes said. “Supporting men in their health journeys isn’t just about individual wellness—it’s about strengthening our families and communities for generations to come.”

Men who participated in screenings and wellness activities were entered into a raffle to win a free iPad, encouraging meaningful engagement with their own health needs.

For more information about the event, please contact: kgilles@addabbo.org.

Joseph P. Addabbo Family Health Center, Inc. (JPAFHC) is a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) dedicated to transforming value-based care servicing communities of Southeast Queens (Rockaway + Jamaica), and Red Hook Brooklyn. For decades, JPAFHC provides comprehensive, patient-centered healthcare services, ensuring equitable access to high-quality medical, dental, behavioral health, and social support programs, regardless of ability to pay. The Health Center continues to address chronic disease management and improve health outcomes by integrating advanced technology and fostering strong provider-patient relationships. As one of the leading FQHCs in NYC, its commitment extends beyond healthcare. To learn more about Joseph P. Addabbo Family Health Center, Inc., visit www.addabbo.org.