Harnessing creativity, technology and teamwork, Stony Brook’s iCREATE has stepped up to address a critical need in the current coronavirus crisis: the need for protective face shields.

“Anybody who’s been paying attention to the news understands that there’s a shortage of personal protective equipment for medical personnel,” said Charlie McMahon, Interim Senior Vice President of Information Technology and Enterprise CIO for Stony Brook University.

The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends full face shields for medical personnel to protect both themselves and their patients. During a meeting to discuss ways to support medical personnel during the COVID-19 crisis, Judith Greiman, Chief Deputy to the President and Senior Vice President for Government and Community Relations, mentioned an upstate New York company that was printing face shields on a 3D printer.

“She knew we had the iCREATE department here, and we have 3D printing capability,” said McMahon. “She showed me the article and asked, ‘Can we do this?’”

The answer to that challenge was “yes.”

Read the full story: https://news.stonybrook.edu/featuredpost/stony-brook-ingenuity-takes-on-coronavirus/

Hand sanitizer, produced by the Stony Brook University Chemistry Department, was shared with Stony Brook University Hospital and the Long Island State Veteran’s Home to aid health care providers working on the front line of the COVID-19 patient care.

From left: Dr. Shabnam Davoodi and Dr. Xinxin Yang flank the hand sanitizer created by the Chemistry Department. The Chemistry Department used their knowledge to help keep medical professionals safe.

Manufactured in the Department’s six general chemistry labs, with water and raw health grade materials, and following World Health Organization protocols, the hand sanitizer is packaged in 4-liter plastic containers, easy to distribute and use.

SUNY Distinguished Professor and Chair of the Department of Chemistry, Peter Tonge, is leading the initiative with the support of Dr. Xinxin Yang and Dr. Shabnam Davoodi. Dr. Yang is a research scientist in Nicole Sampson’s lab (Sampson is also a SUNY distinguished professor of Chemistry and Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences), and Dr. Davoodi is a postdoctoral student in the Tonge lab. In only one day of production, the team made 17 gallons of hand sanitizer.

The Stony Brook Stitchers is an all-volunteer organization that creates and donates handmade items to people in need within SBU Hospital, Cancer Center, Children’s Hospital, and Long Island State Veteran’s Home.

“We serve all the departments in the hospital, anyone that’s interested, “says Shampine.

In a typical year, the Stitchers receive 2,500 to 3,000 donated items. However, for 2019, they set a new goal of 4,000 and put out the call. Their network of volunteers came through with an outpouring of goodwill and determination. Thanks to their increased efforts, they were able to exceed their goal by nearly 100.

“Our volunteers are really so generous and creative,” says Jan Tassie, West Campus Director for the organization.