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Second annual "MANfest" encourages conversation of men's health

Posted at 11:42 AM, Nov 10, 2017
and last updated 2017-11-11 02:52:17-05

Friday night at Temblor Brewing company was different from a typical Friday night; the usual beer and food were still the same, but the conversations weren't.

23ABC's Tim Calahan emceed the second annual "MANfest" - an event put on by Dignity Health to give men a chance to learn about a topic that can be ignored, their health.

So organizers from Dignity Health did away with the traditional doctor's office setting and replaced it with live music, beer and food. None of which are usually present when you see the doctor. 

"We're here being people and you're next to a doctor just talking to him like he's your buddy, and you can share anything personal or anything medical that you may want to discuss," Dr. Berkay Unal, an orthopedic surgeon said.

The event gave men and women the opportunity to speak to doctors and specialists in a casual, comfortable setting. There were free glucose and blood screenings and the opportunity to ask questions. 

"We're letting people know, hey this is your opportunity to learn about things about men's health and concerns that we have, and some of the tests you can do to have screening protocols, Hemmal Kothary, the Chief Physician Executive of Central California said. 

Organizers said this year's turnout was even better than last year's MANfest.

"I think it's going to keep growing, I think the word's going to get out, you know more and more men are going to come out, and you know, ask those questions that they haven't been able to in the past," Kothary said.