Research Tuesdays - Rethinking men’s health

Men are dying younger—and from preventable causes more—than women.

And no, it’s not because men ignore their symptoms; University of Adelaide researchers have debunked that myth. They’ve found that common issues—like a lack of gender-specific approaches during medical consultations, misattributing chronic disease symptoms to normal male ageing, and stigma around issues like erectile dysfunction—are preventing optimal care.

Men do engage actively in their health, and our researchers are developing tools to better their outcomes. Through a checklist and an app, the research aims to help men spot red flags, improve health literacy, have more effective conversations with GPs, and live longer lives.

Join us in November to rethink men’s health.

The presenters

Professor Gary Wittert has a Personal Chair in Medicine and is Director of the Freemasons Centre for Male Health and Wellbeing, the University of Adelaide and South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI). He is also Senior Consultant Endocrinologist at Royal Adelaide Hospital, Senior Principal Research Fellow at SAHMRI, and a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences. His research relates to obesity, with a particular focus in men. The scope of this work includes the relationship of chronic disorders to changes in testosterone, sexual function, lower urinary tract symptoms, depression, and implications for the use of health services. The work is funded by NH&MRC, ARC, NHF, Diabetes Australia, MRFF, and the Freemasons Foundation.

Dr Sam Tafari is a graduate of James Cook University Medical School in Townsville. He undertook basic physician training at the Royal Adelaide Hospital where he is currently a 2nd year Advanced Trainee in Adult Endocrinology. During 2024, he was an Andrology and Men's Health Fellow at the Central Adelaide Local Health Network, during which time he enrolled in a PhD. His project aims to develop and evaluate a novel approach to improving the engagement by in, and outcomes of primary health care for men in Australia. This builds on his recently completed Master of Public Health.