Pandemic Puzzle Feature - V3 - FINAL_Layout 1 4 / 21 / 20 11 : 47 AM Page 3 HAPPY TO HELP The Rowan University Foundation has funded Billings Clinic Foundation ] for a mask and When Burlington County received COVID - the cost of materials . I know you have a 3D printer in your lab , ’ ” 19 testing equipment and began the “ The support from the institution , the Mandayam recalls . who process of setting up a testing site in West - president , provost , general counsel , legal He started making calls to see else had a 3D printer since Rowan’s campus ampton , officials reached out to Rowan counsel has been overwhelming , ” he says . was shut down and got in touch with a College of Burlington County ( RCBC ) Health “ Everybody has been asking , ‘ What do students can chemistry professor who could help print Sciences Dean Karen Montalto asking for you need so you and your do this ? ’ ” masks . CMSRU medical students also came volunteers . Some were needed to man Another colleague from Rowan , Dr . on board and Mandayam was able to the phone center for testing center inquiries Francis Haas , assistant professor of mechanical assemble a team , which was crucial since and others were needed to conduct the engineering , received a similar call around the demand was growing . Around the tests on county residents . All wanted to the same time from Jefferson Health — New same time he also received a call from do whatever they could to help . Jersey requesting intubation boxes . Inspira Health asking for masks . “ [ I was ] asked what I thought about our “ When a doctor puts a ventilator into These are not meant to be a substitute [ nursing ] students volunteering , ” Montalto the trachea of a patient or pulls it out , those for N95 masks , Mandayam says . Rather , a recalls . “ I checked with administration first moments you have some of the biggest mechanical barrier in the absence of PPE . and within a couple of hours of the email risks of aerosolizing coronavirus into the fine “ It’s meant to be something medically [ being ] sent out , we had an overwhelming droplets , ” Haas explains . “ The intubation valuable to protect EMTs and others from response . Close to 100 students responding boxes look a lot like a fish tank with one of getting coughed or sprayed on . ” at 10 or 11 o’clock at night saying they want its sides completely removed . A patient’s The following weekend 30 masks were to volunteer . Many of them already work in are EMTs or work in other head and shoulder goes into the box and split between Inspira and Cooper University the hospitals , capacities as nursing assistants . A lot voiced Health Care for testing . “ We the same thing — they want to be involved , received really good feedback they want to help . ” from Cooper and Inspira and “ It speaks to the dedication the students started making modifications masks — where should have for paying it forward and being able to to the the nose be , how wide the jump into the front line , ” says Michael Cioce , bottom should be , ” Man - president , RCBC . dayam says . “ They particularly Students who were one semester away liked the fact these nurses can from graduating were able to volunteer at wash the masks themselves . ” the call center and students who were one After coming up with an month away from graduating could conduct improved design , Mandayam the tests . Because they received hands - on and his team decided to upload experience and helped the community , this Rowan University it online with instructions on volunteer opportunity counts as clinical hours is manufacturing how to print masks for anyone toward their schoolwork . masks through 3D printing to use and the response was “ Our accrediting agencies , the National immediate and immense . Council of State Boards and the State Board on one side there are a couple of holes for “ We’ve received responses from all over of Nursing , all put out policy statements the doctor’s hands to go in . ” the world — France , Russia , South Africa and saying we can form these partnerships with He , too , assembled a team of students Germany . Every 15 minutes I receive an hospitals , the county or the state , and if stu - dents are learning new information and still and received an initial donation of material email from people who thank us for offering continuing to meet the objectives by doing of polycarbonate sheeting to make the this design , ” Mandayam says . “ They print this type of volunteer work , they will count boxes from FocalCool , a biomedical device the masks , tell us what printer they are using ompany , before the Rowan University c that as clinical toward meeting coursework and send pictures of them wearing it . Just Foundation took over supporting the for the semester , ” Montalto says . “ A number the other day I received a picture of two endeavor . of seniors have been able to meet their nurses in Austin , Texas , with a heartwarming grader South Jersey Biz last spoke with Since clinical hours . ” note saying thank you . I had a sixth from Linwood send me a picture saying he Haas , over 30 boxes were made and dis - learned to use a 3D printer from my class RESPONDING TO THE CALL tributed to Jefferson Health , Cooper Uni - As PPE supplies became depleted , health and a young kid from Uganda , where supplies versity Health Care and Inspira . care officials reached out for help . On are very limited , who was able to print masks “ You can hear in the voice of medical March 22 , Shreekanth Mandayam , professor for first responders . It’s amazing to see the professionals , they are justifiably vulnerable of electrical and computer engineering at overwhelming responses . I try to answer and scared of contracting the virus and Rowan University , received a call from — in each email but can barely keep up . ” taking it home to families and loved ones , ” South Jersey Biz spoke with Man - his words — the most unlikely of people , When Haas says . “ Here , we have an opportunity dayam , his team was already on the third Cooper Medical School of Rowan Univer - to have a tool that will make a difference version of the masks and in contact with a sity’s ( CMSRU ) librarian . in real time and protect them and keep manufacturer going through the final phases “ She said , ‘ I found the design on the them safe . I see this as a small thing and of producing 500 masks a week or more . Web by a foundation in Montana [ the it’s one that just happened to be the right 16 | SOUTH JERSEY BIZ | VOLUME 10 ISSUE 4 | SouthJerseyBiz.net