Who was that Masked Man?

Traveling from Austin all the way to the Texas Panhandle, one masked TCEP member has hand delivered over 15,000 much-needed N95 masks to front line workers.

When TCEP acquired 300,000 N95 masks from the Texas Department of Emergency Medical Services, via TMA, the work to distribute them was daunting. Packing and shipping hundreds of cartons of masks became a critically important new task. In addition to shipping hundreds of cartons of masks, TCEP staff made several road trips to bring the masks to San Antonio, Houston, Dallas, Ft. Worth and Austin members. Fortunately, some members stepped up to take extra cartons, and gave out masks in their area, including Dr. Robert Greenberg, Dr. Robert Hancock, and Dr. Hemant Vankawala.

But one TCEP member, Dr. David Pinto, went way above and beyond his immediate area. He began driving to his job (instead of flying for safety reasons) more than 420 miles one way from Austin to Plainview, delivering masks to rural communities along the way. And he has made this trip 8 times so far.

When asked, Dr. Pinto said “ It’s been fun and exhausting delivering the masks but I have to say this is one of the most enjoyable experiences I’ve had last year.  I did not anticipate a 900 mile driving commute when 2020 started.  Bringing masks to these rural hospitals in these tiny little towns has really brought me joy. “

Hats and masks off to Dr. Pinto for the extra time he took to ensure that health care workers got the needed KN 95 masks they needed.

Disclaimer: TDEMS/TMA provide this personal protective equipment (PPE) "as is," and are not the manufacturers of this PPE. TMA/TCEP, therefore, make no warranties or representations about the quality or functionality of the PPE.

In addition, PPE received from this ordering system must be used to address current or reasonably anticipated shortages in your supply of PPE, and must not cause you to be in possession of an excess of PPE beyond your current or reasonably anticipated need. This PPE may not be resold.

PPE are intended for physicians who do not have ready access to PPE through their hospitals.