Lucky me. I got to know Sonny Patel via Twitter.  Our first connection was warm and friendly and has evolved into an interesting friendship with health being the main topic between us.  Sonny is looking forward to being a guest writer at healthtopics.ca where he will provide us with good information on men’s health

Sonny has a Bachelor of Arts in Molecular and Cell Biology emphasis in Cell and Development Biology with a minor in Theater and Performance Studies at University of California, Berkeley. He has completed his Master of Public Health emphasis in Global Health Leadership at the USC Keck School of Medicine.

Sonny has a passion for the topic of men’s health.   He previously volunteered with the Southern California State Coordinator for the Men’s Health Network of Washington, DC.  He is currently developing a new website called Healthy Men Today which will be dedicated to men’s health.  For the most part he was born and raised in Los Angeles, California but spent some of his formative years in India where he saw first hand the global differences regarding health.  After Berkeley, he travelled back to India, where he had spent some of his formative years, and there he witnessed the widening health differences between life in the big city and life in the rural villages, especially among men. 

I asked Sonny “why are men so resistant to talking about men’s health?”  Sonny believes it is the “identity of masculinity” that fosters resistance to this issue.  Men are raised in an environment and culture where seeking help looks “weak.”  Watch for his first article written for healthtopics.ca titled “Be a Man – Just Do It”.   The article will touch the surface of this issue of masculinity as he talks about how sports culture further propagates this masculinity crisis.

Aside from the topic of men’s health, Sonny told me he is spirited and many times is led by his heart and not his head. With his background in theater and performance studies, creativity is a driving force for him.  Sonny has travelled extensively. He is proficient in English and basic in Hindi, Gujarati, Turkish and Spanish. I didn’t ask him if he was single or attached!  With his penchant for travel, ability with language, an interest in health, creativity and an admitted spirited personality, led by his heart and not his head, maybe you will want to ask him?  Find Sonny at healthymentoday and follow him at twitter.com/sonnypatel.