Newswise — The Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Alumni Association Board donated Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for third-and fourth-year medical students who are participating in clinical training in the hospital. Recognizing the importance of PPE in keeping students safe while providing care in a clinical setting, alumni board members ensured that our future physicians were protected and could focus on learning. 

The COVID pandemic has affected not only the health of Americans, but also their financial security. Alumni learned that many medical school students had been impacted financially by loss of work and financial resources. To understand the new financial burdens of students, alumni met with student affairs deans at the school, The Student Government Association, and various other community organizations managed by students. 

One of the greatest needs identified for students was purchasing their own PPE. Physicians themselves, alumni understood the anxiety of providing care to sick patients while also protecting their own safety. This led the Alumni Association to purchase PPE goggles and alleviate that fear for students, who also didn’t have to worry about purchasing PPE with on their own. 

Says Alumni Association President Elena Frid, MD’ 06, “Our board was more than happy to support students in a time of need. Especially with the devastating financial consequences of COVID, being able to donate the goggles so that students didn’t have to buy them personally was important to us.” 

In addition, the Alumni Association generously sponsored the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Student Call Room at the Medical Education Building in New Brunswick, purchasing a TV and refrigerator. The call room is used exclusively for students who are taking a break from clinical work. Students shared that they were unable to bring meals while they were working because there was no place to store food safely. This forced students to purchase their meals and take on unnecessary financial burdens, or not bring meals at all. The new call room equipped with a refrigerator and TV allows students a safe break space to relax in between shifts at the hospital. 

Hank Lubin, MD’ 83, treasurer of the Alumni Association, shares, “The Alumni Association’s goal is to create the best learning environment for our students and support the specific needs they share with us. We as board members love being able to help students through financial support, mentorship and friendship. We are here for our students!” 

The financial donations from the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Alumni Association helped students feel secure, safe and supported by our Rutgers alumni community during a time of many unknowns.