More than 2,500 UAlbany Face Shields Donated to Frontline Medical Workers

ALBANY, N.Y. (May 5, 2020) – In one month, the College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity (CEHC) and College of Engineering and Applied Sciences (CEAS) have donated 2,556 face shields to New York’s frontline health workers and emergency first responders.

The two colleges quickly mobilized in late March to make the face shields using 3D-printed parts. Around 100 volunteers, made up of UAlbany students, faculty, staff and community partners, are leading printing and assembly.

Face shields have been donated to: Albany Medical Center, the Albany Stratton Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Albany County Emergency Management, Rensselaer County Bureau of Public Safety, the Visiting Nurse Association of Albany, Living Resources New York, UAlbany’s student-run Five Quad Volunteer Ambulance Service, numerous SUNY schools and local dental offices.

Both CEHC and CEAS plan to continue production until there is no longer a need.

Stephen Conard (right) hands off a box of donated face shields to Eric Gaunay, CEHC alum and emergency preparedness coordinator at the Rensselaer County Bureau of Public Safety.

“As an engaged public research institution, there has never been a more critical time to marshal our resources and our expertise,” said UAlbany President Havidán Rodríguez. “Our students, faculty and staff at CEHC and CEAS have risen to the occasion during this crisis. Their contributions are making a real impact on frontline medical workers and emergency first responders, an excellent example of UAlbany’s commitment to engagement and service.”

“It is imperative for our frontline workers to have extra levels of protection during the fight against COVID-19,” added Stephen Conard, who is UAlbany’s emergency management coordinator and managing distribution efforts for the face shields. “We have two colleges here at UAlbany that recognized they could help fill a huge gap in PPE [personal protective equipment] shortages. I am so proud to coordinate this effort and the various other campus donations.”

Along with the face shields, a number of UAlbany departments and research labs are offering PPE inventory as well. More than 23,000 gloves, 2,000 face masks, 2,000 N95 respirators, 720 surgical gowns and 100 towels have been donated, as of Monday.

Local and national media outlets have reported on UAlbany’s 3D printing public engagement efforts, including:

• Good Morning America
• A Plus
• Yahoo! News
• News Channel 10 – WTEN
• News Channel 13 – WNYT
• Spectrum News
• WAMC Radio (NPR)

In need of donations or interested in getting involved with the project? Please email Stephen Conard.

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