Emergency physician grateful for university’s face shield project
Rhonda Minton | Office of Advancement |
As an emergency physician at TriStar Summit Medical Center in Hermitage, Tennessee, Brandon Lokey ’05 of Brentwood said the high demand for personal protection equipment had made obtaining personal protective equipment difficult—until a Twitter post caught his eye.
After Lokey learned through social media about the face-shield project launched by Lipscomb University’s Raymond B. Jones College of Engineering and the Peugeot Center for Engineering Service in Developing Communities, he didn't hesitate to reach out to Jon Lowrance and Kent Gallaher, two of his former professors, for assistance in finding out who was in charge of the project.
Brandon Lokey ‘05 uses his Lipscomb face shield during his shift as an emergency physician at TriStar Summit Medical center.
“When I first learned about the program I didn’t know many of the details, but I knew Dr. Lowrance and Dr. G could point me in the right direction,” Lokey said. “I was willing to pay for the face shields and was just so grateful to have the opportunity to get one, as many stores were sold out of them at that point.”
Following Gallaher’s advice, Lokey’s search surprisingly led to the Peugeot Center’s executive director Steve Sherman, whom Lokey had known for years after having grown up with Sherman’s daughters and also attending Otter Creek Church of Christ in Nashville. Another pleasant surprise for Lokey came when Sherman told him about the masks being donated to those who needed them.
“The fact they were willing to give these face shields away and were even asking me how many I needed to make sure everyone I worked with, regardless of whether they had graduated from Lipscomb or not, was protected, is something I am very proud of and grateful for,” Lokey said.
Lokey received a few of Lipscomb’s PPEs and distributed them to partners at work before keeping one for himself.
“It’s definitely been nice to have the additional layer of protection over my face and eyes as I am seeing and caring for COVID-19 patients,” Lokey said.
Brandon Lokey ‘05 and his wife Meaghan (Barnes) Lokey ‘07 and their daughters Madelyn, 8, and Amelia, 5.
That extra layer of protection also is important to Lokey in terms of his family’s well-being. Lokey and his wife Meaghan (Barnes) Lokey ‘07 are the parents of two daughters; Madelyn, 8, who recently finished second grade at Lipscomb Academy; and Amelia, 5, who is in preschool at Otter Creek Church of Christ.
“Wearing the shield at work and knowing my face is covered not only adds a layer of physical protection, but also adds a layer of mental and psychological comfort, knowing I have that increased protection and safety,” he said.
Knowing that Lipscomb’s College of Engineering has helped those on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic makes Lokey feel more grateful and proud of his alma mater.
“This program and the College of Engineering have definitely been a shining light in the midst of a very dark time. Seeing the generosity of people that has come out of this pandemic has been very uplifting and encouraging, especially as someone who has been on the front lines of the fight against this virus,” he said.
“It is in times like this I am very proud to be an alumnus of Lipscomb University. Thank you to the College of Engineering for doing this. Your thoughtfulness and commitment to this project has been a great help and has been a way for Lipscomb to reach out to the city it calls home,” Lokey said. “By making these face shields, you have been the hands and feet of Jesus to people you don’t even know and may never have direct contact with. I have seen God working through you and hope you continue to feel that as well.”