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Air Force Reserve medics train by treating patients in Dominican Republic

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Chance C. Babin
  • Air Force Reserve Command Public Affairs
PUERTO PLATA, Dominican Republic --  After treating more than 7,500 patients, 39 medical specialists left this hot and humid island nation knowing they had helped people, while gaining valuable training and a cultural experience.

Most of the team for MEDRETE 2010 Dominican Republic came from Air Force Reserve Command's 927th Air Refueling Wing, MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. The others taking part in the training May 23-June 5 were from a dozen other units from around the country.

"The group came together and formed a dynamic team that worked well together," said Maj. Jerry Hall, a medical planner with the International Health Specialist program, Headquarters AFRC, Robins AFB, Ga. "We were able to see a large number of patients on a daily basis."

While their mission was to treat medical patients, their training prepared the reservists to deploy.

"It was a good learning experience," said Maj. Vicky Mathews, MEDRETE's lead medical planner from the 927th Aerospace Medical Flight, MacDill AFB. "It showed how well we can pick up, move and treat a large number of patients and redeploy in a short period of time. I think we did it extremely well."

A team of doctors from the Dominican military worked with the reservists throughout the mission.

"It was a privilege to have the opportunity to work with the Dominican Republic military medical providers," said Col. Lynn McDaniels, MEDRETE commander from MacDill's 927th Aeromedical Staging Squadron. "With their assistance, we were able to provide medical and dental services to many more people during the past two weeks."

For the Air Force Reserve providers, having the chance to lend their medical talents to the people of the Dominican Republic made it all worthwhile.

"The satisfaction was priceless. Having the opportunity to help the people of the Dominican Republic and getting to work with their physicians to help make a dream come true to people in need meant a lot to me," said Maj. Salvador Torres-Torres, a physician's assistant with the 927th ASTS. "When you are here working with them, you are making a difference in people's lives, and that's why it means so much to me."

For some members of the team, the Dominican Republic MEDRETE was their first time to deploy.

"The experience to me was eye-opening," said Staff Sgt. James Kulik, an optometry technician with the 927th AMDF. "This was my first deployment and first time out of the continental United States. It made me realize how good we have it back home."

In addition to cultural experiences, the reservists treated illnesses not often seen in the United States.

"This type of training gives our health-care providers an opportunity to interact with foreign national health care and to see tropical diseases not seen in the states," Major Hall said. "It also accomplishes a great deal of training in a short amount of time, which can be hard for reservists to get sometimes."

"We saw things here that we normally don't encounter due to the heavy workload and the wide array of patients," Sergeant Kulik said. "I was able to get certified on some advanced skills that we don't normally get to perform in the clinic. Being in the Dominican Republic was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life to date. I'm glad I had the opportunity to serve with this group."