Wilford Hall doctors bring eye care to Panama patients

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Nicole Roberts
  • 59th Medical Wing Public Affairs
LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFNS) --  Members of the 59th Surgical Specialties Squadron Ophthalmology Flight at Wilford Hall Medical Center here participated in a humanitarian mission to provide eye surgery and exams for Panamanian patients May 9 to 22 at the La Regional Hospital in La Chorrera, Panama.

The hospital is located approximately 20 kilometers outside of Panama City, Panama, and cares for patients who cannot afford to pay for their medical care.

The six-person team from the 59th Medical Wing's Refractive Surgery Center included Lt. Col. (Dr.) Charles Reilly, a consultant to the Air Force surgeon general for refractive surgery; Col. (Dr.) Jonathon Briggs, an ophthalmologist; Capt. (Dr.) Kristine Pierce, an ophthalmology resident; Master Sgt. Jennifer Whitmore, the NCO in charge of the ophthalmology department; Airman 1st Class Joany Nunez, an ophthalmic technician; and Pamela Singleton, an ophthalmology technician.

Doctor Reilly was the team leader for the mission. He has participated in nine humanitarian missions during his Air Force career. The team worked with officials from the ministry of health in Panama, the U.S. Embassy, U.S. Southern Command, 12th Air Force, the 59th MDW Humanitarian and Civic Assistance Office, and the rest of the hospital's ophthalmology team to make the humanitarian mission possible.

The team worked 12 to 14 hours a day for 13 days, performing as many surgeries on as many patients as they could.

"We were all willing to put in the long hours," Airman Nunez said. "There were times when the doctors would squeeze in a patient or two between surgeries, to do basic screening tests. There were days when we ended up doing five extra surgeries in a day than were originally projected."

The Wilford Hall Medical Center Ophthalmology Flight conducted 145 cataract and pterygium surgeries performed and 527 patients examined.

"You end up with a great feeling of accomplishment after it's all said and done. I actually helped cure someone's blindness," Airman Nunez said. "It makes you feel important, and it reminds me of why I joined the U.S. Air Force: to go to extraordinary places, do extraordinary things and help extraordinary people."