PPE Donation a Win-Win

Salus University recently received a much-needed donation of 289 N95 masks, and the connecting thread on how they ended up at the University turned out to be a win-win for everybody involved.

An organization - Medical Students for Masks (MSFM) - co-founded by four friends and fellow students at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM), fourth-year students Mark Siden, Gabrielle Yankelevich and Judy Lubas, and second-year student Briana Krewson, is dedicated to protect healthcare workers on the frontline against COVID-19.

Although not officially affiliated with PCOM, the group's mission included filling an immediate need for Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) and efficiently distributing masks to healthcare programs in the Greater Philadelphia area.

Due to the generosity of donors, grant awards and non-profit sponsors, MSFM was able to raise more than $80,000 to purchase PPEs for 50 local institutions.

The group stopped raising money in May, but recently was able to accept a grant from The Montgomery County Foundation, Inc., because MSFM received fiscal sponsorship through the nonprofit Urban Affairs Coalition. The Montgomery County grant was to be used exclusively for Montgomery County-specific causes. This is the part of the thread that suggests it's not always what you know, but who you know and in this case, that "who" made the difference that benefitted many.

Siden's preceptor at his PCOM ophthalmology rotation is also the program director, Kenneth Heist, DO, and the two began talking about the efforts of MSFM.

Dr. Heist's childhood friend, Ray Akers of Akers Nanotechnology, Inc., sold masks to PCOM at a competitive price. MSFM could use the grant money to purchase the masks from Akers.

But then what? How did the much-needed masks finally get in the hands of Salus University students who desperately needed them for their rotations?

Well, there are two coincidences that put that train in motion. Dr. Heist's son Kenny, is starting in the optometry program at Salus University's Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) this fall and not only that, but Dr. Heist is a clinical director at Moore Eye Institute, with offices in Chester, Delaware and Philadelphia counties.

One of Dr. Heist's colleagues - and good friend - Georgia Crozier, OD '84, MS '87, is also from the long line of Crozier family members who have been instrumental in the growth and history of the University's founding College, PCO.

"I made a call to Dr. Crozier and said our students have this grant and they're trying to give away masks for nothing," said Dr. Heist. "And, it has to go someplace in Montgomery County. I have a son who is starting at Salus and one of my best friends sells this equipment. This could be a win-win for everybody."

And, so it was.

Dr. Heist also mentioned Dr. Crozier had been instrumental in his son's decision to choose optometry. "He spent a lot of time with her," said Dr. Heist. "To have him be a part of Salus (PCO) makes it even more special, this whole thing."

The MSFM students were heartened to put some of the masks into the hands of fellow Philadelphia-area students.

"It has brought myself, the other co-founders and more than 50 volunteers, great pleasure to get the N95 masks out of the warehouse and onto the faces of the clinicians and students at Salus University," said Siden.

In addition, MSFM donated 40 face shields to the University.

Dr. Heist reiterates that as the battle to control COVID-19 continues, healthcare professionals on the frontlines continue to have a great need for PPEs.

"It's very important to get the masks into the hands of the medical professionals," he said. "Other than anesthesiologists, we probably have the closest personal contact with our patients. We're literally six to eight inches away when we examine patients face-to-face. It's a real disease and people are dying from it. The personal protective equipment is extremely important."