NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center received a generous gift of personal protective equipment from the Tzu Chi Foundation, a humanitarian organization that has provided relief aid to over 100 countries.
The foundation donated 1,500 face shields and 3,000 goggles. Of these, 1,500 face shields and 2,000 goggles were made possible through a generous gift by Dr. Frank Yao, professor of clinical anesthesiology in the Department of Anesthesiology. The remaining 1,000 goggles were made possible through a gift by Dr. John Wang, professor of clinical medicine and medicine in surgery at Weill Cornell Medicine.
Additionally, in May the foundation donated 4,400 N95 masks and 1,000 face shields, supported by gifts from Department of Anesthesiology faculty Drs. Vinod Malhotra, Leibert Turner, and Frank Yao.
The Tzu Chi Foundation was founded in Taiwan in 1966. Dr. Yao has volunteered with the foundation since the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks. He has participated in Tzu Chi medical missions for the Haiti earthquake, Bolivia flood, New Orleans Hurricane Katrina, and superstorm Sandy in New York City.