Pacific donates medical supplies to health care providers in its three campus cities

The call came from Kaiser Permanente—and it was urgent. The health care company was short on needed medical supplies in the Central Valley at the onset of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Multiple departments at University of the Pacific responded. And kept on responding. The university was able to help address Kaiser’s needs by donating masks and other assorted equipment—gowns, boot covers, hair covers and gloves. San Joaquin General Hospital officials expressed similar needs, which were accommodated. Dr. Dayna Cerruti-Barbero, director of Student Health Services at Pacific, also reached out to medical providers in Sacramento and San Francisco.

“We really were in on this from the beginning of the crisis,” Cerruti-Barbero said. “I am very proud of that, and I am extremely grateful to have worked with so many passionate people throughout the university. We showed that we cared and definitely filled crucial community needs.’’

Taking part in Pacific’s efforts were the chemistry and biological sciences departments from College of the Pacific, Cowell Wellness Center, the Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy, the Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry, Physical Plant and Student Health Services.

The inventory of Pacific’s donation was vast:

• 645 N95 masks
• 99 COVID-19 testing kits and swabs
• 68,900 pairs of gloves
• 375 masks with face shields
• 254 safety glasses
• 120 surgical gowns
• 1,130 surgical masks
• Other gear: 200 caps, 200 hair covers, 10 surgical masks, 600 beard covers, 350 shoe covers, 75 surgical tie masks with face shields, 96 rolls of toilet paper and 12 rolls of paper towels

Eric Thomas, associate professor of biological sciences, said College of the Pacific faculty “scoured all of our cupboards” looking for appropriate items to donate.

“We were able to find new gloves and various other personal protection gear,” he said. “There were many people involved in the effort. The Wellness Center deserves a lot of credit. They really stepped up to coordinate the effort.”

The health care facilities receiving donations were: Sacramento County Public Health; Kaiser—Central Valley; San Joaquin County Emergency Medical; California Pacific Medical Center—San Francisco; Carbon Health Urgent Care, San Francisco; Sutter Health Foundation for COVID 19 respiratory clinics, San Francisco; South of Market Health Center, San Francisco; Seton Medical Center; and Verity Health System, San Francisco.

“One of the most pleasing aspects is that we were able to help in all three of our campus cities,” Cerruti-Barbero said.