On Friday, October 23, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz and Deputy Borough President Yvonne Graham were joined by Brooklyn reality TV stars Alex McCord and Simon van Kempen (“The Real Housewives of New York City”), Brooklyn newlyweds Nicole Brewer and Damien Gurganious (“Biggest Loser: Couples”) and Brookdale Hospital’s 3-D HD robot, da Vinci, to kick off the annual “Take Your Man to the Doctor” event with free health screenings at Borough Hall. “Take Your Man to the Doctor” is a call to action for men of all ages, ethnicities, and economic levels to regularly visit a doctor, and for the women and men who love them to help make it happen.

“I want to make this plea—this year more than in any other—take your man to the doctor,” said BP Markowitz. “That means your husband, your father, your brother, your son, your uncle, your friend or your significant other. Nag him, drag him, cajole him, entice him. Remember, if you do, he will live to love you longer.”

From 11 a.m. until 2 p.m., participating Brooklyn hospitals, clinics and healthcare professionals offered free screenings for asthma, blood sugar, cholesterol, colon cancer, diabetes, glaucoma, high blood pressure, oral cancer and prostate cancer, along with free flu shots and nicotine patches and other important health information available onsite.

BP Markowitz and Deputy BP Graham were joined at the kickoff event by participating sponsors, partners and supporters: Lutheran Medical Center, Kings County Hospital Center, MetroPlus Health Plan, Preferred Health Partners, Woodhull North Brooklyn Health Network, Best of Brooklyn, the New York City Department of Health, American Cancer Society, Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center, The Brooklyn Hospital Center, Coney Island Hospital; Interfaith Medical Center, Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center, Maimonides Medical Center, SUNY Downstate Medical Center and Wyckoff Heights Medical Center.