NEOMED Makes Large-Scale Donation of PPE to Local Health Agencies

Donation to assist critical PPE shortages due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Continuing to provide education, research and service, NEOMED put its service into action during a time of need as the University donated much-needed personal protective equipment (PPE) to local health agencies, including respirators, masks, surgical gowns, shoe covers, and more than 100,000 pairs of disposable gloves.

The donation was a combined effort by all three colleges at NEOMED – the College of Medicine, the College of Pharmacy and the College of Graduate Studies.

“Regional county emergency management teams have been working collaboratively to distribute PPE based upon need in a multi-county area,” said Joseph Zarconi, M.D., senior associate dean of health affairs and the University’s medical director for the COVID-19 pandemic. “Our intent is to have our donation divided across the counties of Portage, Stark, Mahoning, and Summit, where our larger clinical partner organizations are.”

The full list of PPE supplies, totaling more than 125,000 individual units, includes disposable nitrile gloves ranging in sizes from extra small to extra large, surgical gloves, safety glasses and goggles, head gear with clip-on face shields, surgical masks and gowns. The University also donated N95 respirators, N95 reusable respirators, cotton-tipped applicators, sanitizer wipes, hand sanitizer, shoe covers, bouffant covers and safety glide needles.

“This effort displays the generous spirit of the NEOMED community,” said Dr. Zarconi. “Even at a time of crisis, the first thought is always ‘How do we help those most in need?’”

About Northeast Ohio Medical University
For more than 40 years, Northeast Ohio Medical University has worked in collaboration with its educational, clinical and research partners to successfully train health professionals and medical researchers who serve and impact the region and beyond. The University trains students in a team-based, interprofessional environment and offers Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) and Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degrees, as well as master’s and doctoral degrees and research opportunities in other medical areas. In addition to research conducted within its colleges, NEOMED advances innovation and research in health care through six research focus areas. Visit www.neomed.edu.

# # #