Eberly alumni join Medical Students for Masks

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Question: What is your name, graduation year, and study?

NH: Nicole Hatchard, 2018, general science biological health professions option.

RS: Ryan Schwartz, 2017, general science major in science biological sciences and health professions with a minor in psychology.

BN: Brooke Neumann, 2017, general science major in biological sciences and health professions option with a double minor in human development and family Studies as well as health policy and administration.

Question: Where are you now and what are you doing?

NH: I am in my second year of medical school at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.

RS: I’m at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and am finishing my third year.

BN: I attend the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in Philadelphia and am a third year medical student.

Question: What is the goal of Medical Students for Masks and what has been achieved so far?

NH: Our goal is to raise as much money as possible to purchase Personal Protective Equipment for the greater Philadelphia Area hospitals. The PPE ranges from N95 masks to gowns and intubation boxes. We started out with a set goal, but seeing as COVID-19 is a dynamic disease and the situations are always changing, we really want to do as much as we can. 

Question: Why did you decide to get involved?

BN: Unfortunately, since we could no longer participate in patient care in the hospitals, we wanted to find other ways that we could still help the healthcare community. We quickly became aware of the shortage of protective equipment for healthcare workers and were determined to help address this issue.

Question: How are you involved with Medical Students for Masks?

RS: I am the point person for delivering masks to one of the local hospitals in Philadelphia and I run the Twitter account @StudentsMasks

Question: Where can people go to get more information on the organization?

BN: Every donation is greatly appreciated. Here is our website if you want to learn more about what we are doing along with the link to our GoFundMe.

Question: Is there anything you’d like to share with the alumni community?

RS: State prepared me better than I could have hoped for a career in medicine - I am eternally grateful for their rigor and guidance in transforming me into the student & future health care professional I am today. I hope to give back to the College of Science in any way I can!

Question: Final thoughts moving forward?

NH: I loved my time at Penn State and truly believe in the power of connections and experiences. Penn State instilled in me my passion for science, healthcare, medicine, and philanthropy-all of which are intertwined. These are unpredictable and unprecedented times and we must all support each other as best to our abilities.