How an American Doctor Found the Perfect Gloves with Only Two Fingers

Dr. Sean Branch is an American physician with an unusual challenge: for 11 years, he's been on a quest to find medical rubber gloves that fit his hand.

Doctors are required to wear gloves when conducting physical exams to prevent the spread of infections between patients. However, Dr. Branch's situation is complicated by a unique detail: he was born with a right hand that has only a thumb and one finger. This didn't stop him from succeeding in medical school, but it did complicate matters regarding gloves.

"I've been looking for suitable gloves since my first year in medical school. I searched throughout the country—checked even at special effects shops in Hollywood," Dr. Branch explains. All to no avail. He frequently had to wear ill-fitting gloves on his right hand, which made it hard to work comfortably.

The solution came from an unexpected source. Genie Dunn, a senior staff member in the communications team at Kimberly-Clark and a former high school classmate of Branch, heard about his dilemma and came up with an original solution. She consulted with experts at the company, who requested a precise photo of Branch's right hand. Using a 3D printer, they created specialized gloves tailored just for him.

"They sent me the prototype, and it wasn't a bad fit," says Dr. Branch. "I then recorded myself wearing the glove, noting where it was too tight or too loose and how it needed to be adjusted. They sent this feedback to their team in Malaysia, which produced a new prototype. This back-and-forth continued until we achieved the perfect glove." The process took several months.

"American business often gets a bad reputation, but I think if you look behind the scenes, you'll find people in these companies are genuinely good people trying to do good," comments Genie Dunn.

Upon completion of the mission, Dr. Branch received a shipment containing a year’s supply of suitable gloves, along with a promise that he could order more whenever he needed. The only cost he was responsible for was the low shipping fee.

"I don’t mind paying for it," he declares. "I’d have been willing to pay a million dollars for these gloves. To me, they’re priceless."

Dr. Branch goes through about 150 pairs of gloves a week. He notes that the new properly fitting gloves will not only allow him to work more comfortably but will also save him time as he no longer has to manipulate them into a usable shape.