ATLANTIC CITY - AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center will mark World AIDS Day during a ceremony honoring those who have lost their lives due to HIV/AIDS and those living with the disease. The event will take place 9 a.m. Friday, Nov. 30 at the George F. Lynn Harmony Pavilion on the Atlantic City campus, 1925 Pacific Ave.
The 30th anniversary of World AIDS Day is Dec. 1.
Speakers will include:
- Christina Cummings director, Project Nest Transitional Housing Program, an AIDS Resource Foundation for Children program, Ventnor
- Mia Williams, graphic arts teacher, Atlantic City High School
- Edward Hamaty, D.O., chairman, Department of Critical Care, medical director, Neuro Critical Care, and executive sponsor of PRIDE employee resource group, AtlantiCare.
Community partners participating in or supporting the event include:
- Garden State Equality, Asbury Park, NJ
- Greater Atlantic City GLBT Alliance, Atlantic City, NJ
- Project Nest Transitional Housing Program, Ventnor NJ
- South Jersey Aids Alliance, Atlantic City, NJ
- Spanish Community Center, Ventnor
- Stockton University
The AtlantiCare Healing Arts Program will also recognize winners and participants of its second annual World AIDS Day Poster Contest held at Atlantic City High School. The contest engaged students in increasing awareness and about prevention, diagnosis and treatment of HIV/AIDS. Artwork also addresses eliminating stigmas and preventing discrimination that can affect those impacted by HIV/AIDS. Twenty-eight Atlantic City High School graphic arts students submitted artwork for the contest. AtlantiCare will display many of the submissions at the hospital campus through Dec. 12.
The winners are:
- First place - $500 Diamond Taylor, senior
- Second place - $300 Bryan Gonzalez, senior
- Third place tie - $200 Aldair Diego and Ella Mackler, juniors
- Honorable Mention Madolin Bergman, sophomore; Alex Castro-Vera, senior; Katherine Dougherty, junior; and Ryan Flynn, junior.
The AtlantiCare Infectious Disease Clinic provided testing, counseling, and treatment referrals to more than 700 clients in 2017. It anticipates more than 850 clients by the end of 2018. AtlantiCare's Emergency Department expects to have tested and counseled more than 4,000 clients by the end of 2018.
