Photo By Gino Mattorano | Sgt. Dallas Hayunga, the Noncommissioned Officer in Charge of the Family Care Unit at...... read more read more
An Evans Army Community Hospital Soldier recently had the opportunity to participate in a unique medical exchange designed to build international relationships in Panama.
Sgt. Dallas Hayunga, the Noncommissioned Officer in Charge of the Family Care Unit at Evans Army Community Hospital, was part of a 12-person team of U.S. Army medical professionals deployed to Panama for a three-week health engagement mission.
The team included a diverse array of U.S. military medical specialists, including a cardiologist, family medicine doctors, an infectious disease doctor, a neonatologist, and an audiologist. They worked closely with Panamanian civilian healthcare workers to share knowledge, techniques, and exchange ideas.
Hayunga, an Army 68C Licensed Practical Nurse, spent her time in Panama working in the delivery room assisting with births alongside the team's midwife and labor and delivery nurse and doing blood draws.
""It was a lot of side-by-side training,” said Hayunga. “They taught us how they do things there, and then we showed them how we accomplished the same tasks."
Hayunga says the exchange of knowledge was definitely a highlight of her experience.
“One of the most significant learning moments for me was observing the local nurses perform intravenous (IV) insertions on difficult patients, including infants, without the aid of modern technology like vein-finding lights or ultrasound,” Hayunga said. “Being able to get the IV on the first attempt without the vein even being visible was just mind-blowing to me. I’ve always been pretty efficient at doing IVs, but they taught me a lot of their tricks on hard-to-stick patients, so I definitely learned a lot from them.”
While working in labor and delivery, Hayunga had the opportunity to share her training in critical emotional support protocols.
"Unfortunately, while we were over there, we did go through a fetal demise,” she said. “I was able to pass on some of the knowledge from the bereavement care that we're taught, and they seemed to appreciate learning about how we respond to those unfortunate events."
While many of the Army personnel relied on designated translators, Hayunga was able to leverage her own background to act as an interpreter for her team.
“My parents are originally from Mexico, so I grew up speaking Spanish,” Hayunga said. “I was able to communicate directly with our host-nation providers, which was very helpful.”
Despite her fluency, adapting to the local dialect and specialized clinical vocabulary required a brief adjustment period.
"There are definitely differences between Mexican Spanish and Panamanian Spanish, so there were some challenges, particularly with medical terminology, but we were able to work through it, “Hayunga said. "For example, if there was a more complicated word, I was able to describe it without saying the actual word and they would know exactly what I was talking about."
Hayunga says that one of the highlights of the mission was the professional bonds forged with her teammates. “Our team continues to keep in touch through a group chat,” Hayunga. “I see them as mentors and lifelong colleagues. "The Army is about the connections you make, and you always end up working with the same people again down the road.
“I told them before I left - if you ever need me to come down again, please let me know. I'd be more than willing!"
| Date Taken: | 08.14.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 08.14.2026 12:21 |
| Story ID: | 572424 |
| Location: | COLORADO, US |
| Web Views: | 49 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, EACH Soldier exchanges skills, helps strengthen partnerships in Panama, by Gino Mattorano, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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