Fairfield, CT - Lily Delmonico never imagined she would be shouldering regional healthcare workers as she started down the path to graduating this spring 2020 semester from Fairfield University. The Bioengineering major was looking forward to all the usual completion-of-undergraduate-school celebrations and ceremonies. Then, in mid-March, Covid-19 arrived in Connecticut. Almost overnight, it took root worldwide and began to change forever many of the ways we live, interact and do business with each other.
Like many of us, she was fearful and concerned about her safety and those around her. Her attention turned to frontline healthcare workers and first responders in particular, who were dealing with unimaginable situations and often without ample Personal Protection Equipment (PPE). Lily wondered how she could apply the knowledge she had gained through her school programs and help them. She started to notice instances of other students using school 3D printers to create plexiglass face shields and, with classmate Caroline Smith ('21), began figuring out how to go about it.
They approached School of Engineering Dean Richard Heist about their initiative, which they dubbed the "Stag Shields Project", and he helped guide them. Lily and Caroline found a face shield model online that they particularly liked and spent the first half of April designing their own version and figuring out the logistics. In the process, they added team members and fellow Bioengineering classmates Evan Fair '22, Andrew Jobson '20 and Tom Nguyen '21.
Finally, they were ready to start the manufacturing processing. Using 11 of the school's 3D printers to handle the job, all working at once, they were able to produce "a couple of hundred shields per day," according to Lily. Each incorporates a Stags logo, the school symbol.
"As of today (June 8), we have produced 2,171 face shields," Lily proudly shared. And the distribution -- at no charge to the receivers -- has been widespread, as one can see from the distribution list below, which includes organizations and facilities in Connecticut, New York and Massachusetts.
FACE SHIELD BENEFICIARIES:
RegalCare at Southport, Lord Chamberlain Nursing Home and Rehabilitation, Little Sisters of the Poor retired Nuns Nursing Home, Carolton Nursing Home, Emergency Dept at Greenwich Hospital, Bridgeport Hospital Yale New Haven Health, Bridgeport Hospital Outpatient Radiology, Greenwich Hospital, BI Lahey Health at Home, NEMG Cardiology, New Haven Fire Department, Bridgeport Hospital, Phelps Hospital Northwell Health, Skincare Physicians of Fairfield County, YNHH, Branford Optometric Associates, Mahopac Volunteer Fire Department, New York Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital, Danbury hospital & Bridgeport hospital, Holy Name Hospital, St. Vincent's and Bridgeport Hospital, Newton Wellesley Hospital, Albany Medical Center, New York Presbyterian Lower Manhattan Hospital, Diocese of Bridgeport, Kencrest (non-profit organization), Dr. Scully and Dr. Black, Bridgeport Hospital outpatient radiology, Keep Me Home home health care, Yale New Haven St. Rae’s, Stop and Shop, Norwalk Hospital, Associated Podiatrists, Bay Street Pediatrics, Distinctive Dental Service, Bridgeport Hospital, CLASP Homes Inc, Martin Luther King Community Hospital, I work for Stamford Hospital, Soulcare physical therapy, Plainfield Vision Care Center Inc., Colchester Eye Care, LasikPlus, Kemp Eyecare, Yale New Haven Hospital, Sight Eye Health, Prudhomme Vision LLC, Mahopac Volunteer Fire Department, RegalCare at Southport Royal Vision Associates, Sensitive Care Dental Health Center, Dr. Pavano & Associates, Family Vision Center, Eye Physicians and Surgeons, Eyecare Expressions, Donald A. Pogoda D.M. D. LLC, St. Charles Church in Bridgeport, Ridgefield Family Eye Care, Boys and Girls Club, CNA, and Cottage Grove Cardiology.
Reflecting on this whole experience, Lily said, "As my college career was interrupted by Covid, this effort gave me some closure as I got to work with some friends and put what I learned over the past four years into this project."
And, now, as she wraps up the manufacturing, she is looking ahead to the future, and an actual in-person graduation ceremony Fairfield University said it hopes to host this fall, in October.
All the best, Lily -- and team! We know you will go far!!
YOUTUBE OVERVIEW OF THE STAG SHIELDS PROJECT: