In this episode, we sit down with Commander Craig Reiner, a retired Navy fighter pilot and prostate cancer survivor, to explore the intersection between military service and men's health. We open with Craig's journey through the Naval Academy and his decorated career as a combat pilot, including the high-risk, high-adrenaline experiences of landing an F/A-18 on an aircraft carrier at night. But it’s another risk—one far less visible—that ultimately changed his life: a prostate cancer diagnosis at age 42.

We talk through how routine military screening, starting at age 40, likely saved Craig’s life. Even with no family history and no symptoms, his PSA levels were still closely monitored. When his PSA unexpectedly tripled, his flight surgeon referred him to a urologist. Despite being well below standard thresholds, Craig pushed for a biopsy. It came back positive, and he immediately opted for a full prostatectomy. His cancer was caught early, fully contained, and successfully removed. He’s now been disease-free since 2011.

Craig reflects on the challenge of facing cancer at a young age, especially as a single father of two, including a son with special needs. He shares how the discipline and mental toughness from his military career helped him power through the diagnosis and treatment. He expresses zero regret about undergoing surgery, emphasizing the peace of mind it gave him.

We also discuss broader issues—like how military aviators may be at increased risk for certain cancers. Craig believes exposure to radar, UV radiation, and extreme physical stressors likely played a role. He references emerging studies linking fighter pilots to higher rates of not just prostate cancer, but also brain injuries and melanoma. We agree that current prostate cancer screening guidelines fail to recognize these unique risk factors, often excluding high-risk men due to age or occupational exposure.

Throughout, Craig shares how he has made men’s health advocacy a part of his everyday life. He regularly engages friends, fellow veterans, and even strangers in conversations about PSA testing and prostate cancer. He pushes back against the male reluctance to seek help—what we call the “cockpit mentality”—and urges men to take control of their health the way they take care of their cars.

We close by discussing Craig’s current lifestyle: staying active, flying recreational planes, and still chasing the thrill—safely. His story is one of discipline, awareness, survivorship, and purpose. And his message is clear: early detection saves lives, and the guidelines need to catch up.

Michigan Men’s Health Foundation — https://www.michiganmenshealthfoundation.org

National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) — https://www.nccn.org

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) — https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org

In this episode, we explore how we’re reshaping the way we approach prostate cancer screening. We begin with Dr. Arnon Chait’s fascinating personal journey—from working as a physicist and rocket scientist at NASA to co-founding Cleveland Diagnostics. His transition from space science to biotechnology is rooted in a deeper mission: making medical diagnostics more effective, accessible, and less invasive.

Dr. Chait explains how he and his co-founder Boris Zaslavsky created Cleveland Diagnostics through a unique scientific and clinical collaboration. Their work led to the development of IsoPSA, a next-generation liquid biopsy test that significantly improves the accuracy of prostate cancer screening compared to the traditional PSA test. While PSA testing has been vital since the 1980s, it lacks specificity, often leading to unnecessary and painful biopsies. IsoPSA changes that by identifying whether the PSA comes from normal or cancerous cells, giving physicians better guidance for decision-making.

We reflect on the flaws in current screening guidelines, particularly the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force’s recommendations that limit PSA screening based on age, rather than overall health or family history. Both of us agree that this age cap contributes to preventable cases of advanced prostate cancer. The ability to stratify risk early—and cost-effectively—is essential for improving outcomes and reducing the financial and emotional burdens of over-treatment.

A major focus of our conversation is democratizing access to early detection. We discuss integrating IsoPSA into mobile men’s health clinics, allowing men in underserved areas to receive accurate results in real time from a single blood draw. IsoPSA’s affordability and compatibility with existing lab equipment make it ideal for broad implementation.

We also touch on the importance of public engagement and awareness campaigns like Cleveland Diagnostics' “PSA on PSA,” which aims to spread knowledge and encourage early testing. Yet, we recognize that stigma around men’s health persists. We call for more public figures and survivors to share their stories, helping to normalize conversations about prostate and testicular cancer.

We conclude with reflections on legacy, innovation, and the evolving role of AI in diagnostics. While AI has promise, we emphasize the importance of keeping diagnostics simple, interpretable, and actionable for real-world clinical settings.

In this episode of the On Call for Men’s Health Podcast, we sit down with Alex Kimbrough, a longtime Emmy Award-winning director at Fox 2 Detroit, to explore his deeply personal and professional journey. While known for his behind-the-scenes presence in news broadcasting, Alex opens up about his upbringing, the influence of Cass Technical High School, his health battles, and his path to transformation.

We begin by understanding Alex’s role in news production, where he walks us through the intensity of live directing, managing chaos in real time, and what it takes to make a newscast flow seamlessly. Alex’s pride in his alma mater, Cass Tech, is palpable. He shares how it was a formative institution that shaped his sense of identity and excellence, and how its alumni have quietly but powerfully impacted the world.

We then shift to more emotional terrain as Alex recalls his friendship with former Fox 2 General Manager Jeff Murray, whose tragic suicide in 2011 left a permanent mark. Alex also opens up about being the director behind monumental events like the funerals of Coleman Young, Rosa Parks, and Aretha Franklin, moments that defined Detroit history and his own career.

Health becomes a central theme as Alex reflects on his own struggles, including obesity, hypertension, kidney disease, and seizures. His turning point came through bariatric surgery, a step he resisted for years but ultimately embraced. He credits his wife Rosalyn, a breast cancer “conqueror,” and his son for giving him strength and purpose. Their support—and his desire to be present for life’s future moments, like dancing at his granddaughter’s wedding—propelled him toward lasting change.

Alex discusses the psychological and emotional impact of weight loss, the changes in news media over the decades, and how legacy media is adapting to the digital era. He also shares his pride in producing The Hunt, a reality-style news segment on unemployment, which earned him an Emmy and reaffirmed his creative vision.

We close with Alex’s reflections on fatherhood, legacy, and resilience. His mantra, “I can’t want this more than you,” serves as a call to personal responsibility and action. He’s now living as “Alex 2.0,” intent on advocating for men’s health, encouraging others to take ownership of their wellness, and setting an example for his family and community.

Links: Michigan Men's Health Foundation: https://www.michiganmenshealthfoundation.org

The Pink Fund: https://www.pinkfund.org

Cass Technical High School: https://www.detroitk12.org/casstech