​Detroit Doctor Recognized For Mask Sanitization Innovation

DETROIT, MI — Dr. Iltefat H. Hamzavi, a dermatologist at Henry Ford Health System in Detroit, has been given the Patient Care Hero award from the American Academy of Dermatology for his innovative use of light therapy to sanitize masks needed by frontline healthcare workers during the coronavirus pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused a shortage of the personal protective equipment—including N95 respirator masks, gowns, and gloves—which healthcare workers need to keep themselves and patients safe. But Hamzavi utilized his phototherapy knowledge—including the use of ultraviolet light to limit virus growth—to identify a safe, efficient method to disinfect masks, the group said in a news release.

As a result, his team, under the direction of Dr. David Ozog, helped decontaminate more than 6,000 masks in the first two months of the pandemic at three hospitals around metro Detroit, and this method has been used at numerous institutions across the world.

“Hearing stories of limited supplies from across the nation inspired me to think about how dermatologists can help during this public health crisis,” Hamzavi said. “Though I typically use phototherapy to treat skin disorders like psoriasis, eczema, and vitiligo, I realized the same technology can be applied to help with the pandemic response.”

Working closely with a phototherapy technology manufacturer, Hamzavi and his team at Henry Ford created a prototype of a device that can clean N95 masks, allowing them to be re-used by medical professionals. Soon after, the team collaborated with their colleagues in the health system’s infection prevention and control department to test the cleaned masks with frontline nurses and doctors. This was done to ensure the masks stayed intact and continued to fit properly after reuse, according to a news release.

“Dr. Hamzavi and his team have been instrumental in applying their dermatology expertise to discover a new way to clean masks that is helping all frontline health care professionals,” said Mayur Ramesh, MD, Senior Staff Physician, Division of Infectious Diseases, Henry Ford Hospital. “I feel much safer providing patient care during this pandemic knowing my mask is clean and safe.”

Hamzavi and his team are sharing their learnings with other manufacturers and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration so that this technology can be deployed by others.

The AAD created the Patient Care Heroes program to recognize physicians who transform patients’ lives by utilizing their expertise and collaborating with other physicians to treat serious skin disease.

“This pandemic requires unprecedented collaboration and medical innovation to protect our healthcare providers and our patients,” said board-certified dermatologist Bruce H. Thiers, MD, FAAD, president of the AAD. “The Academy commends Dr. Hamzavi and his team’s ability to creatively use their dermatologic experience to offer a solution to an important safety issue within the larger medical community.”