Presentation Proposal for 2009 AANP Conference

Contact Information:
Dr. Steve Rissman
Naturopathic Physician/Assistant Professor
Dept. of Health Professions
Metropolitans State College of Denver
Campus Box 33, PO Box 173362
Denver, Colorado 80217-3362
Ph. 303-556-3938 Fax 303-556-3439
E-mail: srissman@mscd.edu

This abstract is being presented for oral presentation of 60 minutes (90 minutes would be
acceptable)
Title: “Men’s Health: Time to Move North of the Prostate”
Description:
For too long, medicine has paid scant attention to men until they’re older. Even then, the focus is
on treating erectile dysfunction, enlarged prostates, and atherosclerotic arteries. Steven Rissman,
N.D. has widened the lens to a holistic view of men of all ages. At Metropolitan State College of
Denver, where he’s a tenure-track professor in the Integrative Therapeutic Practices Program,
Rissman helps young men make more conscious decisions about nutrition, fitness, personal
relationships, and career. In this presentation, he will share his experiences in fostering men’s
self-image, integrity, and fulfillment.
Objectives:
The attendee will be able to:
-Identify health issues relevant to young men
-Discuss methods to help men access and express emotion
-Apply techniques to integrate into the patient intake which provide avenues for emotional
contact
-Characterize benefits of men communicating with other men
-Establish ideas for creating opportunities for men to communicate
-Adapt methods to use in a clinical practice which will improve the quality of men’s lives
Presentation Summary:
Hippocrates said, “a wise man ought to realize that his health is his most valuable possession”.
Yet, compared to women, 7% fewer men graduate from high school and 25% fewer men receive
bachelor’s degrees. Men are more than twice as likely to develop alcohol abuse. They live an
average of five years less and can expect to spend fifteen of these years with chronic illness. Men
are more often the perpetrators of violence, yet most of the resources for dealing with
interpersonal violence focus on supporting female victims, educating women about avoiding
violent situations. Attempts are made to rehabilitate male perpetrators, but few resources are
allocated toward correcting the cultural malaise that generates unhealthy emotions and
maladaptive behaviors such as substance abuse and violence.
Dr. Rissman believes it is time that we create more wise men. Toward that end, men need
education in identifying and expressing their emotions appropriately.
In this presentation, attendees will discover some of the new inroads in supporting the health of
young men. Dr. Rissman developed a course called “Men’s Health” at Metropolitan State
College of Denver and he will discuss results of a survey that identified what men want to know
about health. He will describe topics covered in his men’s health class and the outcomes/benefits
of the class. Attendees will participate in a discussion of pathways for improving the lives of
men.
The topic of supporting the health of young men is relevant to the theme of this year’s
conference: healing of the planet. Men comprise over 50% of the world’s population. If they had
greater self-awareness about their health on all levels, their wiser decisions would serve to
sustain rather than despoil the world.
Target Audience:
Medical practitioners, General audience, Teachers
Biography:
Dr. Steven Rissman earned his ND in 1996 at Bastyr University in Seattle, Washington,
where he completed his residency. Dr. Rissman has maintained a private practice in the
Denver area since 1998 and in 2002 began teaching at Metropolitan State College of
Denver where he is currently a tenure-track professor in the Department of Health
Professions. He was instrumental in the development of a new major called Integrative
Therapeutic Practices, in which he teaches Clinical Pathophysiology, Holistic Health,
Men’s Health, Complementary and Alternative Medical Therapies and Introduction to
Homeopathy.
Dr. Rissman speaks frequently about topics in men’s health. He will present “A
Naturopathic Approach to Anger in Men” at the American Men’s Studies Association’s
17th Annual International Conference on Men and Masculinities in Montreal, Quebec in
April 2009.
Dr. Rissman lives on a farm north of Denver, Colorado with his partner and their son,
where they raise, train and show paint horses.