Two learners from Florida State University Panama City’s Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Program (DNAP) employed their clinical expertise to create a significant impact on communities in need.
Alonso Martin Arcadia-Reynoso and Daniel O’Malley traveled to Mexico in February to assist with the AdventHealth Foundation’s “Sharing Smiles” initiative, a medical charity that delivers complimentary corrective surgeries to underprivileged children in Latin America born with cleft lips or palates. The students dedicated a week on location, completing a total of 42 procedures aiding 26 children.
For Reynoso, the opportunity was a dream realized. As the child of immigrants, he spent part of his youth residing in Mexico, and his fluent Spanish skills served to facilitate communication gaps for other team members. Reynoso’s heritage also instilled an extra layer of confidence for the patients and their families.
“I observed remarkable humility and gratitude from every parent and child we met,” Reynoso remarked. “It was motivational to witness the teamwork among everyone, both local and American, participating in the effort to support these children in need.”
Even in instances where surgery wasn’t immediately feasible, Sharing Smiles provided assistance to patients.
“Regrettably, some children were not eligible for surgery that week, but the team did everything within their power to offer help in alternative ways, such as connecting them with orthodontic services to initiate the process for surgical repair or directing them to a nearby event they were preparing in a neighboring state a few months later,” O’Malley stated.
The nationally recognized DNAP program at FSU Panama City spans 36 months and concentrates on patient care before, during, and after surgical procedures across various environments. The curriculum emphasizes the necessity of critical thinking, effective communication, and professionalism while executing diverse anesthesia techniques. It prioritizes analysis, assessment, and decision-making skills in all aspects of anesthesia.
“The nurse anesthesia program at FSU PC equipped us thoroughly to be meticulous and innovative amidst intricate clinical situations,” Reynoso noted. “DNAP provided us with a strong foundation in the principles of nurse anesthesia throughout our time as students.”
O’Malley and Reynoso were in their concluding semester of the program managing clinical sites and getting ready for board examinations when Dr. Chris Dobson, a pediatric anesthesiologist associated with Sharing Smiles, contacted Stacey VanDyke, DNAP director, searching for two student volunteers.
“They are making a significant difference,” VanDyke stated. “I couldn’t be more proud of their commitment and professionalism, and it’s a privilege for our school to be part of this mission.”
The forthcoming Sharing Smiles mission taking place in the Dominican Republic will feature DNAP student Rebecca Lisson as a member of the team.
“I anticipate this mission trip will be a transformative experience and I am very excited to assist those in need,” Lisson shared. “Anesthesia is administered fundamentally the same way, irrespective of location; it ultimately comes down to adjusting to the resources available. The DNAP program is exceptionally demanding, designed to ensure that graduates are skilled and safe anesthesia providers.”
Sharing Smiles offers corrective surgery and rehabilitation therapy while collaborating with local public health agencies and private sector leaders to deliver comprehensive care for children long after their surgeries.
For further details regarding FSU Panama City’s Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia program, please visit appliedstudies.fsu.edu.
The article Sharing Smiles: FSU Panama City nurse anesthesia students assist cleft lip and palate surgeries in Mexico initially appeared on Florida State University News.