ON AVERAGE, MEN live about five years shorter than women do, said Richard Dorment, editorial director of Men’s Health and Women’s Health, at the start of this year’s Men’s Health Lab held on June 16, 2026, at Hearst Tower in New York City. But the opportunity to prevent disease has never been greater, a point Dorment discussed in depth with Oren Cahlon, MD, executive vice president and chief clinical officer of NYU Langone Health.
From Dorment’s conversation with Dr. Cahlon to his closing discussion with actor, playwright, and filmmaker Jesse Eisenberg, this immersive event was packed with inspiring ideas and practical solutions for men to live healthier, happier lives.
Across the talks, which you can view below, the theme that emerged was the power of taking action, whether that’s booking the annual physical you’ve been putting off, talking to your doctor about symptoms you’ve been ignoring, or even considering donating a kidney, like Eisenberg did last December.
Welcome
Lisa Ryan Howard, executive vice president and global chief revenue officer of Hearst Magazines, kicked off the eventful morning with brief remarks.
The State of Men’s Health: Prevention, Performance, and Living Well
Here, Dorment and Dr. Cahlon dug into the potential of preventive medicine, which starts with proper screening. Dr. Cahlon explained that he sees on the horizon new blood tests being studied to screen for nearly all cancers, which will be transformative. “Any cancer at an early stage is highly curable,” he said. “The key is finding it early.”
For now, Dr. Cahlon’s key longevity takeaway for men is to engage in the health system before you get sick. In short, make sure you’re getting your regular check-ups and screenings and ask your healthcare provider what else you can do.
Special Remarks
U.S. ILD Asset Lead, Boehringer Ingelheim, Tim Ryan addressed the audience to acknowledge the company’s 140-year history of transforming lives by making long-term investments in science, innovation, and research to help patients today and for generations to come. He announced the company’s commitment to raising awareness for interstitial lung disease (ILD), a group of conditions—affecting more men than women—that causes inflammation and scarring in the lungs.
Ryan mentioned that progress doesn’t come through science alone—it takes researchers, healthcare providers, patient advocates, and organizations coming together to encourage patients to advocate for themselves, since many patients aren’t properly diagnosed and end up sacrificing lung function. This teed up the next panel conversation led by Men’s Health executive editor Ben Court.
Beyond the Scars: Navigating Life with Interstitial Lung Disease
Court was joined by New York Yankees legend Bernie Williams, who understands how important it is to get the message out about ILD, having been a caregiver to his father who had idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Also on the stage were rheumatologist Kostas Botsoglou, MD, and Tom M., who is living with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
It can take up to two years to get a diagnosis, which is why self-advocacy and knowing your body are so important, the men agreed. “No one knows your body like you do,” Tom said. Dr. Botsoglou added that even a one year lag in diagnosis can increase mortality risk, so if you feel something is off, it’s important to get checked out—and don’t be afraid to seek a second opinion. And for caregivers, Williams had this to say: “It’s taught me a lot about how precious life is, how fragile it can be, and how to take every measure that I could to take care of myself physically and mentally.”
To learn more about ILD and for more of the stories behind unseen physical and emotional scars, visit beyondthescars.com.
Purpose After Pressure: Life Outside the Mission
Kaj Larsen, US Navy SEAL, entrepreneur, and award-winning journalist, sat down with Bob Woodruff, ABC News correspondent and co-founder of the Bob Woodruff Foundation to discuss post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Joining the discussion were Cedric Williams II, Navy veteran and CEO of BlueMagnet Inc., and Victoria H. Jonas, PhD, clinical psychologist in the Military Family Clinic at NYU Langone Health.
Their conversation centered on some of the strongest approaches we have today for treating PTSD (including community, therapy, and turning pain into purpose), as well as ensuring that the next generation of veterans are “victors, not victims.” They also explored the challenge of getting people to open up about invisible wounds like PTSD—and why doing so is a critical step in the healing process.
Dr. Jonas touched on practices and treatments she’s excited about, including psychedelic treatments on the horizon as well as other medical advancements for treating PTSD. Woodruff discussed his experience in Iraq that led to a traumatic brain injury, and ultimately the founding of the Bob Woodruff Foundation for veteran support.
Sexual Health and HIV Prevention: Do I Have Your Attention Now?
Sexual health can have a huge impact on mental health, physical health, and your path in life overall, according to Lukas Gage, actor, writer, producer, author, and sexual health advocate. In this refreshingly open conversation, sponsored by Gilead Sciences, Gage sat down with Kengo Tsutsumi, executive editor of Men’s Health, and Ofole Mgbako, MD, an infectious disease specialist and health equity researcher at NYU Langone Health.
The men discussed how stigmas around sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are starting to be challenged and why there shouldn’t be any shame in talking about them. In fact, Gage thinks it’s “attractive” to talk about sexual health with a partner. “I lean into the uncomfortableness and think it’s kind of sexy,” he said.
Other topics covered included: “green flags” when talking to partners about sexual health; sexual health myths; small steps to take control of your sexual health; how PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) is the most powerful tool to prevent HIV infections, and how to balance pleasure and protection.
Built for the Long Run: What Sustains Success
If you want to feel inspired to go after what you really want in life, watch this conversation between Michael Sebastian, editor in chief of Esquire, and Anthony Ramos, Grammy-winning artist and actor.
Ramos talked about his “why not?” mentality, which led him to audition for Hamilton (and get the part), open a Brooklyn-based restaurant (Milly’s Neighborhood Bar), run the New York City Marathon, and more. “Why not push my mind and my body?” he asked.
Ramos also discussed what helps him get it all done, including focusing on his sleep in recent years. “As my life started to get a bit busier, I started to really prioritize sleep,” he said, adding that an extra hour or two can make all the difference—and sometimes that means not going out on certain nights (even after a Knicks win). He shared his morning routine, which includes 10 to 15 minutes of prayer and meditation. “I gotta lock in,” he said. Finally, the power of community and connection came up—building relationships, Ramos said, is the best part of the job.
Food Forward: A New Vision for Wellness
You’ll likely recognize the name Jean-Georges Vongerichten from the eponymous restaurant group. But you may not yet know that Vongerichten’s son, Cedric Vongerichten, is also a chef and owner of two restaurants himself, Wayan and Ma•dé.
In this conversation, the father and son duo sat down with Madison Vain, executive editor of Esquire, as well as Louai Razzouk, MD, MPH, interventional cardiologist and quality officer of cardiac catheterization at NYU Langone Health.
While you don’t often hear cardiovascular health and fine dining in the same breath, the Vongerichtens’ approach to food is different. In fact, one of Jean-Georges’ goals in opening his first restaurant in New York in 1986 was for it to “bring home cooking to the table” in a vegetable-forward way that people could eat every day. Dr. Razzouk emphasized that eating more plants, whole grains, and less animal fat are key principles of a heart-healthy diet.
Also discussed: wellness practices from Indonesia that influence Cedric’s cooking; the Indonesian beverage that he says can replace coffee; Dr. Razzouk’s other ways to support your heart health; the #1 diet misconception today; and what the Vongerichtens eat (and drink) to reset and feel better.
The Long View: Growing Up, Growing Older, and Everything in Between
Last December, Jesse Eisenberg’s kidney was flown from New York City to a hospital in another part of the country, where it was transplanted into a recipient who was then able to urinate for the first time in years.
In this gripping conversation with Dorment, Eisenberg discussed how he learned about kidney donation a decade ago and ultimately donated his own at NYU Langone. “It was the most incredible experience both in efficiency and care,” he said. “I felt like I was in a place that was 25 years in the future and was treated like somebody who was a thousand years in the past with kind of beautiful royalty treatment.”
Dorment asked Eisenberg why he chose not to meet the person receiving his kidney and what most people misunderstand about the kidney donation process. Eisenberg also shared his take on the longevity conversation and why having a kid has been beneficial for his mental health.
Outside The Panels
The Men’s Health Lab also included activations from our sponsors. NYU Langone Health hosted a Grip Strength Challenge that put one of the most powerful predictors of overall health to the test right on the event floor. Guests went head-to-head testing their grip strength, with scores feeding into a digital leaderboard that updated in real time for both men and women. As more guests took the challenge throughout the morning, the leaderboard took shape naturally, fueling friendly competition and drawing a steady crowd. NYU Langone Health also provided the event’s official gift bag, packed with wellness products and handed out to every attendee.
Activations From Our Sponsors
NYU Langone Health Grip Strength Test
Gilead Photo-Op Activation
Gilead hosted a vibrant photo-op activation, which featured a bold green backdrop, a plush lip-shaped pink seat, and playful oversized emoji props that gave attendees a fun, colorful spot to snap photos throughout the event.
We would also like to thank Ensure for their support of this event through gifting of their Ensure Max Protein 42g.
Caitlin is a health and fitness journalist based in New York City. She writes for publications including The Wall Street Journal and Runner’s World. She’s completed 12 marathons, including the six World Marathon Majors, is semi-fluent in French, and volunteers as a greeter on The High Line. Follow her on Instagram or LinkedIn.
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