Posted: Thursday, July 2, 2015 7:00 am
The first Men’s Health Forum organized by the Hospital Foundation of Decatur County on Thursday June 4 proved to be a success in more ways than one. “We had a contingent that were probably pressured by wives or other loved ones to attend, but it was a testament to our presenters that everyone had a great time and were glad they came,” shared Foundation Director Bryan Robbins. Featuring dinner and a keynote by Colts favorite Gary Brackett, Robbins shared that the purpose of the evening was to create an event to highlight the need for the men of the community to take a proactive role in their health, while providing information to help them do so. He explained that this purpose alone typically wouldn’t attract interest: “Unfortunately men tend to avoid doctors like the plague, unless, well, they have the plague. We needed a draw, and grilled pork chops and football seemed to work. Even if we did have some help from the women of the community,” Robbins admitted jokingly.
Attendees, both forced and of free will, were treated to appetizers and an assortment of health-related information booths prior to the dinner. The evening’s meal was courtesy of the Decatur County Pork Producers and grillmaster Shawn Bainbridge. Gastroenterologist Dr. Andrew Crane (a North Decatur grad) provided the crowd of 100-plus with a down-to-earth and humorous presentation on the importance of healthy eating, refraining from smoking, and nurturing one’s spiritual development in attaining a healthy life. Equally, highlighting colon cancer as the #2 cancer killer in the US, Dr. Crane explained that exams such as colonoscopies can be both diagnostic and preventative. This dual benefit makes them even more important to get as recommended: “Colonoscopies can not only detect early symptoms of colon cancer, it can help remove abnormalities that could become cancerous in the future” explained Crane. Dr. Crane currently serves both as the Medical Director of the Gastroenterology program at Decatur County Memorial Hospital and Chairman of the Indianapolis Gastroenterology and Hepatology Quality Institute.
A four-minute montage of football highlights introduced the night’s keynote speaker, Gary Brackett. Mr. Brackett shared stories from his nine years as a defensive specialist for the Super Bowl Champion Indianapolis Colts, including his experience as a walk-on at Rutgers University and the difficulty of losing his father, mother, and his brother (to whom Brackett provided a bone marrow transplant)–all in the span of his first 16 months as a Colt. Where this might break many, he was committed to being strong and overcoming anything that stood before him: “I made a decision early, to never stop working to be the best that I can be, and that fueled me on and off the field.” These incidents also led him to establish his IMPACT Foundation, which focuses on the health, education, and relief of underprivileged children. Brackett also shared some of his keys to excellence covered in his new book “Winning: From Walk-on to Captain in Football and Life” and related the new challenges he’s taking on running the Gary Brackett Restaurant Group, which owns such popular names as “The Stacked Pickle” and “Georgia Reese’s Southern Table and Bar.”
The evening concluded with a giveaway to audience, with 25 random attendees walking away with signed copies of Brackett’s book, each of which Gary was willing to personalize. “He was a class act, all the way,” related Robbins. “He was humble, inspiring, and very personable with everyone. You can tell why he’s an Indy favorite, and we thank both Gary and Dr. Crane for making this a great night.” Robbins shared he’d received a number of wonderful comments from those that attended, and looks forward to next year’s forum.
The Hospital Foundation of Decatur County is dedicated to supporting the healthcare initiatives and developing funding for Decatur County Memorial Hospital, and improve the quality of life in our community. The organization’s board includes President, Susan Burkhart, Vice President, Cleo Duncan, Secretary, Joan Eversole, Treasurer, Cris Reynolds and Board members George Reiger, Rheadawn Metz, Mary Lou Davis, Lisa Tressler, Dudley Myers, Sandy Nieman, Dr. Mary McCullough and DCMH CEO Linda Simmons.
— Daily News