Drexel University donates hundreds of 3D-printed face shields to SERV

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May 19, 2020

Drexel University has donated hundreds of medical face shields to essential workers at SERV Behavioral Health System, Inc.

“We are grateful to Drexel University for this generous donation,” said Regina Widdows, President and CEO of SERV Behavioral Health System, Inc. “At SERV, as we navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, the safety of our consumers and staff remains our top priority. We appreciate the support of our friends at Drexel University, and these face shields will no doubt play a major part in helping us stay healthy and flatten the curve.”

Since March, the interdisciplinary design-build team at Drexel University has made more than 5000 face shields for healthcare workers on the front line of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“The team at Drexel and throughout the Delaware Valley has made this project happen,” said Dr. Michele Marcolongo, Department Head and Professor in Drexel’s Department of Materials Science and Engineering. “From every maker who used their technical printing skills to make headbands for the face shields to faculty members Amy Throckmorton (Biomedical Engineering) and Ellen Bass (Information Science; Health Systems and Sciences Research) who organized manufacturing, assembly, and delivery, as well as our generous corporate sponsors and donors—this was a united front to serve our healthcare workers.”

The team at Drexel University uses 3D printers to make headbands for the face shields. Recently, the team set up a large assembly and packaging process in Drexel’s Innovation Studio, from which they can produce several hundred face shields a week. 

In addition to SERV, Drexel University has also donated face shields to St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children, Penn Medicine, Main Line Health, Temple University Hospital, Einstein Medical Center, and Holy Redeemer HomeCare in Philadelphia.