Men – Here for Life

The Hennepin Assault Response Team recognizes 45 years of helping sexual assault victims heal

November 14, 2022

Sexual violence has a profound effect on a person’s physical and psychosocial health throughout their lifespan. According to the CDC, over 50% of women and a third of men experience sexual violence in their lifetime. In the immediate aftermath of sexual assault, a holistic response by medical professionals has the potential to have a positive impact on healing. It is during this incredibly vulnerable and traumatic time that the Hennepin Assault Response Team (HART) program steps in to create a safe space for patients. (more…)

June is Men’s Health Month. Join Travis Pagliara, MD, for a discreet virtual medical group visit to discuss men’s issues.

June 9, 2022

Men can face various health issues over their lifetime. Trying to live a healthy lifestyle means exercise, healthy eating, and good health habits. But this may not always be enough to maintain that lifestyle. A broken bone may send you to the Orthopedic Clinic. Diabetes or heart problems may be in your family history. Arthritis may creep in as you age and send you to a rheumatologist for treatment. And to no fault of your own, you may experience problems with your urologic system.

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Farewell to an appendix: Grateful patient documents emergency surgery by Michael Voges

March 9, 20221

Patient Michael Voges One night I had a tummy ache. My wife, of course, immediately proclaimed I should go to the ER because it’s probably my appendix. But I felt better the next day. Mostly. In fact, for the balance of the next ten days, I felt fine, mostly. I had a low fever for a couple of hours a day and got the chills for a while but it never stuck. My appetite wasn’t great but who can’t stand to lose a little weight in today’s world?

Fearful of my wife’s initial proclamation, I kept poking my appendix area because I really wanted something to blame for this mild discomfort, but if it was tender there, it seemed to be only because of all the diagnostic poking. After over a week of this occasional low fever-chills-tummy thing, I finally decided to get in touch with the nice folks on the Ask a Nurse line. They said week-long tummy aches aren’t the norm and I should probably go see someone.

My regular clinic on East Lake was booked but they got me into the nearby Whittier Clinic the next morning at 9:00 AM to see Kelly E. Pezzella, APRN, CNP who was simply fantastic. Kelly dutifully poked my belly to see if she could make me scream and then ordered up some blood tests in the clinic. Some very nice people smiled and chatted and poked a few holes in me eventually procuring the nectar of life and sending me on my way. (more…)

Young, healthy – and at risk for a heart attack?

August 27, 2021

John Grudnowski is a 44-year-old marketing executive who works out 3-4 times a week. He had no apparent risk factors for a heart attack, but on May 22, 2021, that’s exactly what he experienced while living for a short time in Costa Rica.

“I had just completed one of my workouts with a personal trainer and afterward felt like I couldn’t do anything,” he explains. “I could barely even do a push-up, and I began to feel nauseous so I went home. My wife said that everyone was heading to the beach, but I just wasn’t feeling well and wanted to lie down for a while. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I was going to have a heart attack.” (more…)

The Fatherhood Experience: Bruce Murray

August 20, 20214

Fatherhood looks different to every dad. That’s why we’re taking an in-depth look at fatherhood with key experts, regular parents, and everyone in between in this mini-series, “The Fatherhood Experience.”

This week we spoke to Bruce Murray. Bruce is a Father Advocate and Case Manager with MVNA, the community care extension of Hennepin Healthcare, providing visiting services to dads and has taught parenting classes in partnership with the FATHERS Project. He is a husband and father that spends his professional time connecting fathers to resources that support them in being the best dads they can be. (more…)