Lending a Helping Hand
Published on April 22, 2020Physician assistant studies student using 3D printing to enhance PPE during COVID-19
Physician assistant studies student using 3D printing to enhance PPE during COVID-19
When the COVID-19 pandemic began, second-year physician assistant studies studentAlec FieldsOpens in new window, a veteran and fleet Marine force hospital corpsman, began to use his 3D printer to create much-needed brackets for personal protective equipment (PPE) for health care providers in eastern North Carolina.
Fields, who returned home to be with his family in New Bern, wanted to contribute to the response, especially since the pandemic disrupted his clinical rotation schedule.
“I love getting to use my old skills and equipment to help people who are putting themselves at risk to ensure society keeps as normal as can be,” Fields said.
So far, Fields has produced more than 100 brackets for the hospital as well as for fire and rescue teams in Havelock, North Carolina. Fields is using an open-source design and is customizing the brackets to fit masks that health care providers use.
