Ed Smith couldn’t imagine a more sensible way of spending $35 than at the Second Annual Southern Illinois Men’s Health Conference at John A. Logan College Saturday.

The longtime Carterville resident said the blood work alone made the expenditure a bargain.

“I went last year, too, and it was great, but there is even more for men to take advantage of this year,” Smith said. “Hearing checks were offered and nutritional advice. Why not check things out? This health conference is a very good idea for men. I know the women have been coming to a conference here for about 20 years. It’s about time the men got involved.”

Smith was one of an estimated 300 attendees at Saturday’s conference, up about 100 from last year’s event. Saturday’s extravaganza kicked off with blood screenings followed by a breakfast. Additional screenings included: hearing, dental, vision, fitness and foot care.

Featured speakers around the lunch break were: Dr. Brian McElheny of Carbondale; Dr. Larry Jones (Harrisburg); Dr. Sam Stokes III (Carbondale) and Dr. Gemilo Resaba (Benton). The focus of the conference was to encourage men to establish a relationship with a general practitioner and understand the importance their role is in their family.

Tom Corpora, one of the organizers of the conference, said men benefited from myriad services at a low cost.

“It was like one-stop shopping relative to men’s health and wellness with opportunities to meet the leading professionals in the Southern Illinois region who provide treatment and health-related services to men,” Corpora said.

Rebecca Reichrath, case manager with Alternative Health Care in Marion and Herrin, said the health conference offers her and other employees with the business the opportunity to meet potential new clients. Two of those employees – massage therapists Lyndsey Gimmy and Crystal Jerrell – were busy doling out free chair massages to help men relieve stress.

“We’re a chiropractic office, but massage goes hand-in-hand with chiropractic care,” Reichrath said. “You need the muscles loosened up before they can be manipulated.”

Charles Lusch of Carterville touched base with students operating the SIUC Human Nutrition and Dietetics booth to learn more about what foods are best to eat and those that aren’t. One student, Jeff Anderson, explained that the idea is to debunk the myth that eating healthy foods is a more costly option than eating more caloric foods.

“You can get a lot more food for your money – and more nutritious – in this 10 pounds of fresh produce here as opposed to these snack foods,” Anderson said pointing to potato chips and cookies.
Paula Reeves with the Arthritis Foundation said she thought Saturday’s conference “flowed much better” in the gym and was “more conducive” to networking with other healthcare providers.

Donna Cunetto, representing Joyner Therapy Services in Marion, concurred.

“I think this year’s show was excellent,” Cunetto said. “Men seemed to be much more attentive this time around.”