Kyle 0:01

Welcome to His Choice Health, a practice that is built to serve the unique needs of men in their 30s, 40s, and 50s in a simple and holistic manner. And this is our first podcast. I'm Kyle Simmons, and I'm here with Dr. Matt Zerden, board certified physician with His Choice Health. Matt, tell us a little bit about yourself.

Dr. Zerden 0:17

Yes, hi. As stated, my name is Matt Zerden, and I've been providing reproductive and healthcare promotion since I became a physician in 2009. We've created a dynamic health program for you, and I'm thrilled to be introducing it today.

Kyle 0:30

Great. And beyond our roles with His Choice Health, we're both guys in our 40s trying to navigate our own health journeys. Now, if you're listening to this today, you're either evaluating the program or getting ready for your first visit with us. This episode is here to help you do three things quickly. First, understand the program. Second, know what to expect. And third, show up ready to get real value out of your first visit. Dr. Zerdon, let's start with the big picture. What is this program designed to do?

Dr. Zerden 0:54

This program is built to make men's health care simpler, more useful, and more proactive. We focus on the areas that tend to matter most to men as they move through their 30s, 40s, and 50s. General health, cardiovascular, metabolic, and male systems like sexual health, bladder, prostate, and hormones.

Kyle 1:12

Most men have had the other version of healthcare. You wait, you get a rushed visit. You hear things, look fine, or you have to see five different providers. And you often leave without a clear picture or a real plan. Or you just don't go to the doctor because you don't see real value in it. I mean, honestly, I haven't had a primary care doctor since my son was born. And he's about to turn nine years old. But I turned 40 recently, and I know the next decade is an important one for me. But honestly, I didn't know where to go. So Matt, you're telling me that cardiovascular health, metabolic health, and male systems are the most important things for men at this time. Why do you put them all together? The reason we group those together is simple.

Dr. Zerden 1:49

They're important and they're connected. Heart disease is still the leading cause of death for men in the United States. Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men, other than skin cancer. Testosterone tends to decline with age, and erectile dysfunction is common, with prevalence data showing about half of men between 40 and 70 report some degree of it. All of these are preventable if identified and treated early.

Kyle 2:13

Okay, I hear you. These are definitely important issues for men. You also imply that none of this happens in isolation. These issues usually do not live in separate boxes, even if the healthcare system treats them that way. Can you tell me more about how they're connected? Sure. Let's make this real for you.

Dr. Zerden 2:29

Men that experience erectile dysfunction have a 40 to 90% higher future risk of heart attack, stroke, and cardiac death. And erectile dysfunction precedes cardiovascular symptoms typically by two to five years. Why? Because erectile dysfunction is often caused by the same plaques that build up in the arteries that go to the penis and prevent blood flow that creates erections. These are the same plaques that build up in the heart, and the arteries are much bigger, so you see it first with erectile dysfunction and then later with a heart attack. That's one reason we believe these conversations belong together instead of being split into disconnected parts of the system. Don't treat the ED and think that you're good. Treat the ED and start treating the underlying causes that could lead to a heart attack in five years.

Kyle 3:15

Wow, I nerd out on this stuff, so that's a fascinating point for me. I never would have expected ED and heart attack to be connected. Are there other examples of this?

Dr. Zerden 3:23

Sure. Testosterone replacement therapy is a hot topic today. Many men think low energy and weight gain are simply aging. Testosterone clinics will tell you it's all about testosterone replacement therapy or TRT. And you probably thought at some point, do I need TRT? Maybe. But often this can be a sign that your metabolic health is drifting in an unhelpful way, or improving your metabolic health can meaningfully improve hormonal function. We can help you dig into exactly how to tactically change your metabolic health and improve your overall health. You can see the pattern here. We help you to understand and treat the symptoms. But we're not here only for the quick fix. Telehealth, TRT, and online clinics can give you a treatment, we'll help you resolve the symptoms now, but also address the root cause so it doesn't rear its ugly head years later and cause even greater problems. Even if you don't have anything going on today, cardiovascular, male systems, and metabolic problems build over years and decades, not months. Maintaining your health today can improve your next five to ten years.

Kyle 4:26

That's a big point. So these are really interrelated issues, and a lot of men do not get in front of a cardiologist or urologist until something has already started slipping in a big way. And because these are interrelated, you really need the expertise of both of them earlier on. So what we're trying to do is bring that wisdom to you earlier, while there's still more to be able to protect, maintain, and improve and simplify it with a single person that you're talking to. So our big hairy audacious goal is that no man should have a preventable health issue get in the way of their life. To do that, we're bringing a huge amount of expertise to men in a curated way. We have a phenomenal doctor in you, Matt, and just as importantly, we've built a team of experts behind you. We have two preventive cardiologists, Dr. Jacob Kelly and Dr. Rob McGuera, two urologists in Dr. Wayne Quang and Dr. David Rapp, and a metabolic specialist in Dr. Miranel Jayan, that have all pulled together their minds in collaboration with you and Dr. Monteith to be able to build this integrated system that's at the center of each of their areas of expertise and is uniquely what men need now. This is what allows us to really be able to make it a one-stop shop.

Dr. Zerden 5:30

That's exactly the idea. This is not reactive care. This is thoughtful care that will help you understand and address key health issues proactively. But it's not meant to make health become all of your new life. Few men want to go find a bunch of doctors alone and navigate the bureaucracy of insurance to see them. We'll bring all that to you and make maintaining and improving your health across all of these areas clear, simple, and achievable. We have designed this program specifically for men.

Kyle 5:59

Right, so let's talk about program structure. This program features four visits a year. The first is the baseline visit, featuring the HCH 360-degree men's health profile. Get a sense of exactly where your health is and use it to define a plan that is right for you. This is the foundation of everything at His Choice Health. Then the next three visits are more focused. One cardiovascular visit, one metabolic health visit, and one male systems visit.

Dr. Zerden 6:26

Yes. And the order of those next three visits is personalized. We look at your labs, your questionnaire, your symptoms, your family history, and what matters most to you. Then we decide together where the biggest opportunity is and what should come next.

Kyle 6:39

So it sounds like there's a clear structure here, but it's not cookie cutter. Is that right?

Dr. Zerden 6:43

Yes. The structure is consistent, the plan is personal. We also have a framework to each visit. Before the visit, we give you the education you need so you're not walking in cold. During the visit, we apply that information to you and your health specifically. Then after the visit, we give you a focused plan so you know what to work on before the next touch point.

Kyle 7:02

And that gets to the heart of how this program differs from other providers. One physician covers all the critical aspects of your care, making it simple, and you don't need symptoms to get value out of every visit. Education empowers future action. Personalization ensures that it is designed uniquely to you. And then focused treatment makes impact achievable. Not fluff, not random advice, not ten different things to chase at once. One thing that really matters. So Matt, let's pivot and talk about visit one. What does the patient need to do before that first appointment?

Dr. Zerden 7:32

Two simple things. First, complete your labs at least a week before the visit. Second, a complete complete your questionnaire thoroughly and honestly. That matters because your first visit is not supposed to be spent collecting information we could have collected ahead of time. It's a 30-minute virtual visit, and the goal is to use all of that time well. We want to review your overall health, connect the dots, and build a plan for the year ahead.

Kyle 7:58

Wait, so you sp don't spend the first 15 minutes of that visit answering questions to the nurse while they half-heartedly listen to you and type into a computer and have a doctor glance at that and come back and ask you the same questions again?

Dr. Zerden 8:09

No. I've had many visits like this, and we're definitely not going to repeat that. That model sucks for everyone involved. Fortunately, we don't do that here.

Kyle 8:17

In all serious, no, it it does sound like the prep work that is required on both sides is what makes the visit both efficient and high value. Two things that are really important to men. Exactly. You come in prepared, we come in prepared. That is how the conversation gets better. Alright, now during that first visit, what does the experience actually feel like? Make it real for me. Right.

Dr. Zerden 8:37

So we'll review the 360-degree men's health profile. This summarizes your labs, your questionnaire, your symptoms, and your relevant history. This allows you to understand where you stand across the major areas that matter most. The point is clarity, not just numbers. Not just whether something falls barely inside a lab range. We want you to understand what looks strong, what needs attention, what may be drifting in the wrong direction, and where we should focus first.

Kyle 9:03

So it sounds like that matters even for the guy who says, I feel pretty good. I'm not coming in because something's clearly wrong. Is that right? Absolutely.

Dr. Zerden 9:10

You do not need an issue for this first visit to be valuable. In many cases, the best use of care is earlier, before you have lost ground. The visit should help you understand what to maintain, what to monitor, and where a small change now can matter a lot later. We'll also provide you a targeted set of prevented screenings and actions that every man should take, unique to their age and family history.

Kyle 9:31

Okay, so by the end of that first visit, what should he walk away with?

Dr. Zerden 9:34

Three things. First, a clear understanding of where he stands overall. Second, a plan for the year, including which focused visit should come next, and a guide for preventative health screenings. Third, one specific area to work on before returning. We are not trying to overta overhaul your entire life in one appointment. We are trying to help you establish a framework that empowers you to be resilient throughout some of the big years of change and to make meaningful progress in area or areas that matter most right now.

Kyle 10:03

And that's why this can actually fit into real life. The visits are quarterly, they're mostly virtual, and the rhythm is simple enough to stay with. Preparation, visit, follow-up. One touch point a month, natural and manageable. Enough to keep up the momentum without making health feel like a second job. That's exactly what we want. Better engagement, less friction, more clarity. So here's the short version. Get your labs done at least a week ahead. Complete your questionnaire. Show up ready for a real conversation, and expect to leave with three things. Your HCH 360-degree men's health profile, a plan for the year ahead, and one clear focus before the next visit. Dr. Zerdon, anything else that you want men to keep in mind going into that first visit? Just this.

Dr. Zerden 10:47

You do not need to wait until something feels broken to take your health seriously. The earlier you understand the full picture, the more options you usually have. This is a different kind of care. It's more proactive, more connected, more useful. We're not waiting until you've already lost something important to start paying attention.

Kyle 11:05

Thanks, Matt. Listeners, we hope that you walk away from this podcast understanding a few things. First, your 30s to 50s are a critical time for taking ownership of your health. And second, it doesn't have to be hard or overwhelming. We're excited to be bringing you a new health program that combines the collective expertise of cardiovascular, male system, and metabolic health in a simple and personalized program that has been designed just for men. That's wrap. Looking forward to seeing you guys at your first visit.