The Florida College System Provides Vital Ventilators and Protective Equipment to Community Medical Facilities
Published on: May 07, 2020
The Florida College System is proud to announce more than 100 ventilators have been loaned or donated to local hospitals, community medical centers and nursing homes/assisted living facilities by Florida College System and private institutions across the state. The ventilators will help ease the shortage caused by the COVID-19 health emergency.
As college campuses closed and moved to online instruction, the schools stepped up to donate ventilators and personal protection equipment (PPE) to help local nurses, doctors and medical facilities as they care for patients. The equipment would typically be used in medical training programs to prepare students for the workforce. In addition to ventilators, the colleges have donated tens of thousands of boxes of gloves, masks – including N95 masks – gowns, caps, shoe slippers and other PPE supplies.
Chancellor of Florida’s College System: Kathy Hebda
“Florida Colleges have proven they are dedicated to doing everything possible to help their communities overcome COVID-19. We are proud of all of the Florida Colleges for quickly meeting the needs of Florida hospitals and providing lifesaving equipment that is integral to safeguarding the health of Floridians. Not only do they educate our future healthcare professionals; they are playing a life-changing part in fighting this pandemic.”
Broward College President: Gregory Adam Haile, J.D.
“It will take our collective efforts to overcome this pandemic," said Broward College President Gregory Adam Haile, J.D. "Our priority has been to support local healthcare partners by transferring the PPE we have in stock to help fulfill the shortage faced by Broward Health and Memorial Healthcare System. As the needs develop, we are committed to finding new ways to assist and support those on the frontline in the fight against COVID-19."
Chipola College President: Dr. Sarah Clemmons
“Chipola College provides training for many of our area’s front-line health-care professionals from EMT’s to nurses. We are glad to do our part to donate materials to help our essential medical personnel.”
College of Central Florida President: Dr. James Henningsen
“The College of Central Florida is proud to support our community and our valued first responders with the donation of our personal protective equipment. We are in this fight together and are growing even stronger as we face challenges that no community should face. We are #CFstrong at the College of Central Florida and in our community.”
Daytona State College President: Dr. Tom LoBasso
“Daytona State has always had a strong partnership with area hospitals and we’re happy to provide any support we can give during this crisis,” said DSC President, Dr. Tom LoBasso. “It’s another way to fulfill the mission of a state college, which includes service to the local community. It’s also gratifying to see how our own staff at Daytona State has taken this to heart at a personal level, and it demonstrates our commitment to helping those in need.”
Florida Gateway College President: Dr. Lawrence Barrett
“When health care providers in our community are struggling to provide protection for the front line caregivers, we feel it is important to do whatever we can to help.”
Florida SouthWestern State College President: Dr. Jeff Allbritten
“Florida SouthWestern State College proudly supported our local hospitals and program graduates serving on the medical frontlines by loaning our ventilators and donating our personal protective gear. We will always stand up and support our communities in a time of need.”
Florida State College at Jacksonville President: Dr. John Avendano
“We cannot express just how grateful we are for the dedicated health care professionals who are doing all they can to maintain the health and wellbeing of our entire community,” said FSCJ President John Avendano, Ph.D. “FSCJ is happy to do our part to support these health care heroes as they work tirelessly to care for our families, friends and neighbors during this critical time.”
Gulf Coast State College President: Dr. John Holdnak
“Since Gulf Coast made the transition to remote instruction back on March 30, the lab supplies are not being used,” said Dr. John Holdnak, GCSC President. “With medical supplies in such high demand, they will be more useful in the hands of the men and women on the front lines who are working tirelessly to protect us in this time of need. Gulf Coast is committed to helping our community in any way that we can.”
Hillsborough Community College President: Dr. Ken Atwater
Hillsborough Community College trains the majority of the healthcare workers and first responders in our area. We have been proud to provide over a dozen of our respirators and hundreds of gloves and masks to support the important work of our healthcare partners as they work tirelessly to care for our community,” said HCC President Ken Atwater.
Indian River State College President: Dr Edwin Massey
"With so many graduates from Indian River State College Health Science programs serving as the front-line response to COVID-19 in our community, the impact of the global pandemic hits especially close to home. The College has provided multiple hospitals in our service district with much-needed medical supplies, and we will continue to work with our healthcare partners and local Emergency Operations Centers in anticipation of their additional needs."
Miami Dade College President: Dr. Rolando Montoya
“We are extremely honored to do our part to help our community through this global health crisis,” said Miami Dade College Interim President Rolando Montoya. “For us, it goes beyond the loaning of life-saving ventilators from our Medical Campus to Jackson Memorial Hospital. We have always had a deep emotional and substantive tie to the health, success, and well-being of the community where we live, learn, and work. Our connection extends way beyond the physical confines of our campuses. There are countless MDC graduates who are now on the frontlines in the battle against COVID-19. They risk their health daily to save the lives of others. Our College is so proud of them, and pleased we are in the position to lend critical equipment to our excellent public hospital.”
Northwest Florida State College President: Dr. Devin Stephenson
Coordinating efforts with ESF-8 ensures these supplies will be dispersed to agencies with the greatest need. “We are all in this together,” said NWFSC President Dr. Devin Stephenson. “I am proud of our health sciences department under the leadership of Dr. Charlotte Kuss and their willingness to put community first with this donation of PPE to our local health department. We are prepared to do all we can to protect those who are on the frontline of the COVID-19/Coronavirus pandemic.”
Palm Beach State College President: President Ava Parker, J.D.
“As a leader in health care training in Palm Beach County, it was important for us to reach out to our hospital partners to provide support during this crisis,” said PBSC President Ava L. Parker, J.D. “This COVID-19 pandemic is unchartered territory for all of us, and the only way to get through it is by working together. That’s the Panther spirit, and I’m pleased that Palm Beach State is playing a role in potentially saving lives. We will continue to seek ways to help our community.”
Polk State College President: Dr. Angela Garcia Falconetti
Response for press release #1 – Polk State College continues to work with local organizations and healthcare facilities to provide support for the Polk County community. Polk State has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Winter Haven Hospital, giving the BayCare facility the ability to utilize, if needed, two ventilators from the College’s Respiratory Care Program. Polk State has also donated 300 surgical masks to the Polk County Emergency Operations Center. The College is working with the Polk County Health Department to possibly make parking lots available for COVID-19 testing sites if needed.
Santa Fe College President : Dr. Paul Broadie II
Santa Fe College stands shoulder to shoulder with our nation, our state and our community as we combat this pandemic. Individuals in Academic Affairs, Health Sciences, the Institute for Public Safety, and our Campus Police have worked tirelessly to identify and provide supplies to our local heroes working in health care and emergency services. These heroes are on the front lines and working day and night to save lives and defeat this pandemic. Our donations of gowns, gloves, N95 masks, hand sanitizer and other vital supplies will serve to protect them as they carry out their critical jobs. We are also preparing to loan our ventilators to the Division for Emergency Management. Santa Fe College will continue to heed this critical call to action. There is no greater responsibility at this time than for us to do our part to aid others as they work to save lives, and we stand unified to defeat this pandemic.
Seminole State College of Florida President: Dr. Georgia L. Lorenz
“Seminole State is committed to doing what it can to help the Central Florida region as we all deal with the global coronavirus pandemic that has disrupted our lives,” said Seminole State President Dr. Georgia L. Lorenz.
South Florida State College President: Dr. Thomas C. Leitzel
"The supportive and reciprocal relationship we have with our community is so valuable, it's only natural to want to give back, especially during a time of crisis."
St. Johns River State College President: Joe Pickens, J.D.
"St. Johns River State College is at its very best when we all work together toward a common goal. Our job as a college community is to do just that for the benefit of our students and the communities we serve. Never underestimate the power of the College’s message to our communities that 'we are here for them,' even in the midst of these most trying circumstances.”
St. Petersburg College President: Dr. Tonjua Williams
“As we witness the heroic efforts of our healthcare workers and first responders – many of whom are St. Petersburg College students and graduates – we will not stand idly by without providing our support,” said SPC President Dr. Tonjua Williams. “Now more than ever, the college family rolls up their sleeves to help our students and healthcare professionals as they push through this unprecedented time.”
Williams said that donations of ventilators, as well as more than 26,000 pieces of personal Protective Equipment such as masks, gloves and gowns, was a grassroots effort that sprung up among faculty and staff.
“I am so proud of the kindness, compassion and generosity we are witnessing across the college and the community,” Williams said. “We are in this together and we will prevail together.”
Tallahassee Community College President: Dr. Jim Murdaugh
"It is our honor to provide our local hospitals and first responders with the medical equipment they need to fight the spread of COVID-19,"said Dr. Jim Murdaugh, President, Tallahassee Community College. "During this global pandemic, while our health professionals do their job, it is critical that the rest of us do our part as well. TCC will always stand ready to serve wherever we can."