The ManKave Summit: One New Jersey Physician’s Empowering Journey In Men’s Health

Some men find it difficult to discuss their physical health problems with doctors. 

Victor Ukwu, MD, noticed this issue, especially among Black men, and sought to advance health equity for communities of color by establishing Maven Community Health and the upcoming ManKave Summit. The latter will occur on Saturday, June 14, 2025, at Dickinson Hall in Hackensack, New Jersey.

Ukwu, MD, ’s journey in medicine began when he was a college basketball player. Though he wanted to become a Division 1 coach, an accident derailed his basketball career. However, he took this incident as a sign from God that he was meant to do something bigger than coaching athletes, and shifted his focus to studying medicine. 

While beginning his new journey with a 2.3 GPA, he worked his way up to earning a medical degree. Now, Ukwu, MD, has become a different type of coach as a primary care physician.

“I want to coach people about their health,” said Ukwu, MD, “I want to coach them up, motivate them. Speak to them in a way that will resonate with them so they can know and understand, and then be their quarterback and just help navigate them. That’s what I think a good primary care Doc does.”

Ukwu, MD, started Maven Community Health in 2019 as a quality improvement project while finishing his residency at Meharry Medical College. There, he chose to focus on men’s health, having realized how difficult it was to convince men to undergo colon and rectal cancer screenings. 

He also witnessed how some Black men have struggled to seek medical help from a non-Black doctor. In a 2022 study by the National Library of Medicine featuring 47 Black caregivers, the majority (83%) found that patients preferred caregivers who shared their racial identity, increasing their “feelings of comfort and safety, relatability, and cultural understanding.” 

Thus, Ukwu, MD, aimed to encourage these men to engage more actively in their health through his services. He hoped this would inspire them to seek help from doctors of diverse backgrounds.

“I really found myself getting attracted to doing community work,” said Ukwu, MD, “because maybe there’s an opportunity here, especially me being a primary care physician, to not only engage [men] in their health and screenings and things like that, but also… to do a little bit more in terms of bridging healthcare gaps and promoting early intervention, increasing health literacy, things like that, so I though why not do this through a nonprofit. And so that’s what led to Maven Community Health.”

Eventually, Ukwu, MD’s desire to empower men to take control of their health through “bold, interactive experiences” led him to establish the ManKave Summit. Although his organization has previously held small public events, ManKave’s gathering at Dickinson Hall this June will be its first Summit-style event. 

For the Summit, ManKave will feature a free wellness pavilion offering cancer screenings, blood pressure and glucose checks, cholesterol and STD screenings, COVID-19 test kits, oral health checks, mental health services, and more. Another huge attraction is the marketplace featuring vendors from community-based organizations and local businesses, such as Wells Cleaning Company, Rich Indulgence Home and Body, and BroReavement.

The ManKave Summit will also host panel discussions with local leaders and medical experts, including New Jersey Senator Benji E. Wimberly and Aaron Muller, Founder and CEO of Modify Wellness.

The Summit won’t be exclusive to men. Ukwu, MD, will also offer services to women and families, as he sees them as huge motivators for men to seek medical help and care for themselves.

Ukwu, MD, anticipates an average of 50 to 60 men attending the ManKave Summit in June. Should he reach his goal of 100 men, Ukwu, MD, plans to partner with local healthcare networks and see how many men they can get to leave the ManKave with a doctor’s appointment.

“I think when you leave with an appointment, then you’ve taken that first step…,” said Ukwu, MD, “as long as it’s your head that you know you have this thing to do, I think you’ll see more people actually follow up on those appointments…”

Ultimately, Ukwu, MD, has successfully built and provided a safe space for men to seek professional medical help through Maven Community Health and the ManKave Summit. In doing so, he has taught his patients to take charge of their lives, maintain their health, and improve their well-being while promoting a strong sense of community.

“Not only do we focus on engaging men, empowering men, and leading their evolution. It’s truly about creating a community of brotherhood,” said Ukwu, MD. “We really try to create a place, a space, an experience that really fosters support of a community of men geared towards better health outcomes.”

Tickets are now available for The ManKave Summit and can be purchased here