Getting food to medical personnel
Matthew Lombardi, Artsci’10, created GroceryHero Canada, a free delivery service to help medical professionals focus on the fight against COVID-19. The service matches volunteers with medical professionals in their neighbourhood. The service started in the GTA. In its first few days, it matched 150 volunteers who could deliver groceries to frontline medical staff. The service then expanded across Canada. To sign up, go to getgroceryhero.com.
Adair Roberts, Com’89, started Feed the Frontlines TO, which has the dual benefit of keeping restaurant employees employed while providing hot meals to health-care and social services teams in Toronto.
Connecting Albertans with doctors online
Husein Moloo, Artsci’06, (MD, University of Calgary), launched PurposeMed, a free online service that connects Albertans with licensed physicians to help with medical questions, including about COVID-19. Doctors are on call to answer questions by phone or video chat. www.purposemed.com
Promoting the work of all frontline workers
Gray Moonen, Meds’19, profiles some of the unsung heroes in the health-care system who are integral in the fight against COVID-19. Dr. Moonen, a family medicine resident at U of T and the Toronto Western Hospital, features hospital staff from dieticians to custodians to security guards on his Twitter feed. He takes their photo and adds a quote on how each person is coping with the pandemic. Follow the series at Twitter.com/GrayMoonen.
Protecting frontline health-care workers
Joanna Griffiths, Com’05, founder of KnixWear, a women’s intimate wear manufacturing company, has raised more than $150,000 and is distributing medical masks, gloves, and gowns to hospitals, clinics, and shelters across Canada.
Will Andrew, Sc’94, CEO of Amplify Lighting, has shifted gears for his Markham-based manufacturing company. Amplify is now manufacturing well-fitted, anti-fog face shields designed for frontline workers. The shields were approved by Health Canada and are now being distributed across the country.
On the frontline of health care
Kate Kemplin, NSc’01, has gone to New York City to help its overwhelmed hospital system. Dr. Kemplin has taken charge of a new field hospital as its chief nursing officer and deputy director. The temporary hospital, situated on the site of a Columbia University indoor soccer stadium and field, is staffed by 115 former military medics, nurses, and support personnel, providing care for more than 200 coronavirus patients. The Alumni Review will have a longer story on Dr. Kemplin’s work in the next issue.
