Photo By Andrea Jenkins | An echocardiogram image is displayed as a U.S. Air Force Maj. Samuel Theis, 88th...... read more read more
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CHITRÉ, Panama — An echocardiogram can seem routine—a quick test of heart function—but for patients with hidden heart disease, it can also be lifesaving.
At Hospital Dr. Gustavo Nelson Collado, where wait times for these scans often stretch for months or even years, two U.S. Air Force cardiologists are working alongside their Panamanian counterparts to bring patients answers sooner.
The Ministry of Health identified cardiology as one of the greatest needs for AMISTAD 2025, a global health engagement designed to expand access to care and strengthen readiness. With a growing backlog of patients needing echocardiograms, U.S. support has provided immediate relief.
“We’ve been averaging eight - 10 studies each per day—compared to the three or four this hospital normally sees,” said a U.S. Air Force Maj. Samuel Theis, 88th Medical Group cardiologist. “It feels good knowing we’re putting a real dent in their backlog.”
Hospital administration explained that patients in Chitré often face extended delays for heart screenings, with nearly 400 people on the list waiting for an echocardiogram.
“A man traveled more than three hours from a coastal community to receive an echocardiogram,” said Avelino Escobar Andres, Hospital Gustavo Nelson Collado medical director. “When he arrived, the doctors attended to him right away. For the patient, it was very important — he felt valued, welcomed, and treated with the respect he deserved. After his long journey, he left happy and grateful. That kind of happiness has no price.”
With the arrival of U.S. Air Force cardiologists during AMISTAD 2025, many were scheduled within days instead of waiting months.
“I was told my appointment wouldn’t be until February, but then I got a call saying I could come in this week,” said one cardio patient in Chitré. “It was a huge relief to be seen so much sooner.”
Beyond addressing the long waitlist, the mission also sharpens operational readiness for the U.S. Airmen. In Panama, cardiologists must perform and interpret the scans themselves—without the extensive technician support and advanced equipment available at home.
“This mission mirrors what we’d face in a deployment—working with fewer resources, adapting protocols, and still delivering safe, effective care,” Theis explained. “Sometimes in civilian medicine you don’t see results right away. Here, we know patients are being helped immediately, and in some cases, we may be saving lives.”
In recent days, the team identified severe cases including aortic aneurysms and advanced heart failure—conditions that, if undetected, could prove fatal.
“It’s been truly collaborative,” Theis said. “They’ve shown us how to answer questions with fewer resources, and we’ve shared some of our approaches in return. That’s what AMISTAD is about - cross collaboration and leaving each other stronger.”
That spirit of exchange reflects the very meaning of AMISTAD—friendship—where partnership goes beyond patient care to strengthen trust and readiness on both sides.
| Date Taken: | 09.22.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 09.23.2025 22:23 |
| Story ID: | 549115 |
| Location: | CHITRE, PA |
| Web Views: | 67 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Heart scans highlight partnership during AMISTAD 2025, by Andrea Jenkins, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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