Emergency AIDS testing specialist speaks in recognition of World AIDS Day

Dr. Shkelzen Hoxhaj

The Harris County Hospital District hosted its 11th Annual World AIDS Day Program today from 11 a.m. to noon.

The featured speaker was Dr. Shkelzen Hoxhaj, chief of emergency medicine at Ben Taub General Hospital and an assistant professor at Baylor College of Medicine. Dr. Hoxhaj is the medical director for the Routine Universal Screening for HIV (RUSH) program at Ben Taub. Since 2008, the program has performed more than 80,000 HIV tests on people visiting the hospital's emergency center.

After the hour-long event, held to honor those inflicted by HIV/AIDS and to encourage testing and education, staff and visitors placed ornaments on a "Tree of Remembrance" for loved ones who have died of HIV/AIDS.

The event was held at the Thomas Street Health Center at 2015 Thomas St.