NJ plastic surgeon reprograms breast implant facility to make face shields for hospitals

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SADDLE RIVER — A Fort Lee plastic surgeon is helping hospitals get protective gear by converting his medical device facility to produce full-face shield parts, and recruiting volunteers to assemble them.

Resident Paul Rosenberg has set up about 100 volunteers in 12-person shifts at Wandell School to produce between 3,000 and 4,000 finished shields since they started April 15. He estimates they can produce at least 500 a day.

© Photo courtesy of Julian Rosenberg Julian Rosenberg models one of the masks being assembled at Wandell School in Saddle River.

"I was racking my brain how to get these produced," Rosenberg said. "I turned to our project manager, Sal Romano, and he ran with the idea."

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Romano was able to reprogram the breast implant facility to produce the shields.

"We're using static-cling vinyl," Romano said. "The industrial printer lays on the ink logo and cuts the shape as well."

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Packaging would normally be done at the facility, but Romano said he was still working on that aspect of production. Meanwhile, Rosenberg contacted Mayor Albert Kurpis to find a facility where the shields could be assembled by hand. Kurpis put him in touch with Wandell School Superintendent Gina Cinotti.

"Of course, our answer was an immediate yes," Cinotti said. "The school board's only concern was that the volunteers be prescreened for health issues and wore protective gear."

She said that because the building had already been cleaned after its closing in March, "we were ready to go." Volunteers enter through a kitchen hallway and don gloves and face masks before entering the school's all-purpose room, where three work areas have been assembled.

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"At the first station, the masks are separated from the protective paper," said Rosenberg's son Julian, a junior at Northern Highlands. "At the second station, they attach a foam forehead piece. At the third station, the masks are folded in thirds, bagged and sealed." 

Julian and brother Alex have set up a GoFundMe page for those who would rather contribute from a distance and a SignUpGenius page for those who want to volunteer at Wandell. 

© Viorel Florescu / NorthJersey.com Dr.Paul Rosenberg's medical device company has switched to make components for one-time-use plastic shield masks for use in area hospitals, and the components are being assembled by volunteers at Wandell School in Saddle River

"It's a good way for students to earn their community service hours," Julian said. "We just ask that everyone sign up first, because we can only have 12 volunteers at a time due to social distancing. Volunteers should not just show up at the school." 

Rosenberg is distributing the masks free of charge to area hospitals. He said his goal is 50,000 masks, some of which may be stockpiled in case there is a "second wave" later.

Saddle River Board of Education President John Peros said the board is "proud to support Dr. Rosenberg on providing much-needed medical supplies as we continue this battle against the COVID-19 virus."

"We send a thank you to all the volunteers who are supporting this endeavor," Peros said.

Mayor Albert Kurpis is an enthusiastic supporter of the project.

"I am so proud of the people of Saddle River who are coming together in this time of crisis to help Dr. Rosenberg's project of making face shields for medical personnel and first responders be a success," Kurpis said. "The enormous support demonstrated by our residents, adults and students alike, is truly astounding."

Marsha Stoltz is a local reporter for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Email: stoltz@northjersey.com Twitter: @marsha_stoltz

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NJ plastic surgeon reprograms breast implant facility to make face shields for hospitals