Dr. Jeffrey Steinberg, Chief of Surgery, Curtis Robinson and Christopher M. Dadlez, President, Christopher M. Dadlez St Francis. Photo By Reggie Hales

The Saint Francis Foundation and Saint Francis Hospital honored local business entrepreneur Curtis D. Robinson by naming the new Men’s Health Institute, at the Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center, the Curtis D. Robinson Men’s Health Institute at a reception today in his honor on Wednesday, at the Hospital.

Curtis D. Robinson, the President and CEO of C&R Development Company, a Saint Francis Hospital Board member and prostate cancer survivor, approached the Dr. Jeffrey Steinberg, Chief of Surgery at the hospital with the idea to form the Men’s Health Institute.

In naming the Institute, Lynn Rossini, Director of Giving and Stewardship stated, on behalf of the Foundation that “Curtis Robinson’s time and effort as an advocate for prostate cancer awareness was instrumental in the creation of this program. Dr. McKinney, Director of Community Outreach and Pastoral Counseling, at Saint Francis, joined Dr. Steinberg in this effort.

The goal of the Curtis D. Robinson Men’s Health Institute is to address the racial disparities in Men’s Health for men of color, particularly in the areas of patient education, early diagnosis and appropriate treatment of African American men at risk for prostrate cancer. The Institute has three objectives all of which address this goal.

They include: 1.Establish a community education program to inform African American men at risk for prostate cancer 2. Develop a community based early detection program which includes free testing for African American men at risk for prostate cancer. 3. Offer access to minimally invasive treatment options such as the da Vinci Robotic Surgical System to minimize potential negative side effects of treatment.

The Curtis D. Robinson Men’s Health Institute will be staffed by an outreach coordinator who is responsible for making connections to the community and for informing organizations who serve the African American community about the program.

Curtis D Robinson stated – “As our President takes the lead in health care for all Americans, as we celebrate, this week, the life and works of the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. As we begin the Black History Month please set aside time to reflect upon the history and the accomplishments of African Americans. Far too many men of color suffer from prostate cancer due to the lack of adequate health care opportunities, early detection, screening and education. As a survivor of prostate cancer I am humbled by the honor that the St. Francis Hospital has bestowed upon me.”