February 7, 2018

The 25th Annual Drexel University College of Medicine Pediatric AIDS Benefit Concert (PABC) was another success, raising more than $24,000 this year for children living with HIV and AIDS. Since its inception, PABC has raised over $574,000 for the patients of the Dorothy Mann Center for Pediatric and Adolescent HIV at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children.

The January 20 concert featured students, faculty and guests providing entertainment with a variety of performances, from baton twirling to dance, classical music, rock music and more. PABC is organized annually by Drexel University College of Medicine students.

Norhan Shamloul, who co-chaired this year’s committee with Ashni Nadgauda, was pleased with this year’s turnout. Shamloul, a second-year medical student, says, “We are overwhelmed by the amount of support we receive from students and citizens of the community who are willing to donate their time, skills and products to make the event as successful as it is.”

Second-year medical student Eleni Hannaberry, who, with Daniel Golden, was in charge of entertainment, notes what makes this event special. “Every year I am amazed by the variety of talented students in our school,” she says. “I think that many students are just as shocked as I am by the hidden talents among us.”

Further, Hannaberry explains, “Watching your professors rock out on the stage is always a crowd pleaser,” and this year was certainly no different with one of the highlights of the night including Dr. Dennis Novack, who leads the rock group the Dennis Novack Experience, stage diving and crowd surfing.

In addition to helping organize the entertainment, Hannaberry performed too, singing several songs with fellow students.

View photos from the event

The Dorothy Mann Center for Pediatric and Adolescent HIV at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children is the largest of its kind in the tri-state area, and provides comprehensive care, including social services, to children infected with HIV and their families. The money raised by PABC through donations, ticket sales and an auction helps provide affected families with emergency funds for housing, utilities, food and rent, and helps to offset other expenses such as college application fees and supplies for summer camp.

St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children is an academic campus of Drexel University College of Medicine.