St Mary and CARE Program Celebrate World AIDS Day

2016 marks the 35th anniversary of the first published reports of what would come to be knows as HIV/AIDS. It also marks the 30th anniversary of the founding of CARE by the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word at St. Mary Medical Center in Long Beach.

The CARE program is dedicated to the health and wellbeing of those living with HIV/AIDS and the ultimate eradication of the disease. 

Today’s celebration of World AIDS Day included not only remembrances of those who lost their battle to the disease, but renewed commitments from the County of Los Angeles, City of Long Beach and the medical community at St. Mary Medical Center to prevent HIV infection and AIDS. Using advanced bio-therapies, like PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) and a focus on the most vulnerable populations, the speakers pledged to put themselves ‘out of business’ in caring for these patients. 

30 doves were released at the end of the ceremony commemorating the 30 years of service provided by the CARE program at St. Mary Medical Center. 

Speakers included:

Ace Robinson – Executive Director, CARE

Sister Celeste Trahan – VP of Mission for St. Mary Medical Center

Paul Czajka – Chief Operating Officer for St. Mary Medical Center

Mario Perez – Los Angeles County Director of HIV

Kelly Colopy – City of Long Beach Director of Public Health

Marcia Alcouloumre, M.D. – Infectious Disease at St. Mary Medical Center

The Office of Dr. Robert Garcia – Mayor of Long Beach