Plans in the military are constantly changing. The plans for the Resolute Sentinel 21 surgical readiness training exercise (SURGRETE) in Honduras has been no different.
The Forward Surgical Section with Joint Task Force-Bravo (JTF-B), Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, extended their stay in Choluteca to continue assisting the deployed medics conducting life-changing surgeries.
“The experience we had working in Hospital del Sur during our first week was very gratifying,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Jesse Moskowitz, a general surgeon with the FSS at JTF-B. “It was satisfying, as a physician, to see the life-changing care we were providing as a surgical team, along with the invaluable experience that we received in training as a unit conducting those surgeries. We are grateful for the SURGRETE team for allowing us to stay and continue to learn and work alongside them.”
The team of medics have integrated seamlessly allowing for the high caliber of patient care that is expected from U.S. military medics.
“For me, it was a fairly seamless integration with the SURGRETE team,” said U.S. Army Capt. Mathew Hipwell, a registered nurse with the FSS at JTF-B. “We simply offered assistance and they accepted it with open arms. It was impressive how we came together from across the Americas and have been providing exceptional patient care.”
While being grateful for the camaraderie and teamwork, the medics expressed their gratitude for the local hospital and patients for the opportunity to help.
“I am very thankful to the locals for trusting us to come and help them,” said Moskowitz. “This is a very unique experience, and we are taking away so much knowledge while giving back improvements to their quality of life.”
The SURGRETE along with the assistance from the FSS will continue urological surgeries through the end of the week before they go their separate ways.