Family Medicine on a Mission Part 3: How Well Can You Make A New Friend?

By Aaron Burch

The Closing Ceremony

The mood was celebratory on the last day of the LAMAT 2025 mission to St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

The closing ceremony, which took place at the office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, began with a prayer and recitation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ National Anthem.

Ms. Nerissa Gittens, Permanent Secretary of St. Vincent’s Ministry of Health, Wellness, and the Environment spoke first, saying, “On behalf of the people of St. Vincent, I say thanks to those of you who have come, given of your skills, your time, and your energies. I know Vincentians have benefitted.”

Lt. Col. and ABFM Diplomate Aaron Goodrich then came to the podium to share the success of the mission.

More than 1,100 patients were seen, 36 surgical operations, 320 non-surgical procedures, 46 pieces of medical equipment repaired, 250 dental visits, and 3,000 hours of critical deployment skills all took place in less than two weeks’ time.

“That’s impressive data, and I hope each of you can be proud of what you accomplished. Thank you for all your hard work,” Dr. Goodrich said.

Looking Back at the Kingstown Health Fair

Many of those patient interactions and deployment skills were earned at the Kingstown Health Fair, a two-day engagement where dozens of air force personnel provided consultations and preventive care education to island residents.

Dr. Ian Solari, ABFM Diplomate, and Dr. Zoraida Soriano, board-certified internist, worked together at the fair to consult with approximately 60 walk-up patients. As soon as a chair next to one of the physicians opened, it was quickly taken by a St. Vincent resident eager to speak to a medical professional.

“People were very welcoming, happy to be there, and happy to have a second opinion,” said Dr. Solari. “It was a great outreach opportunity for the country, and a chance to provide a little extra care outside of the hospital setting.”

Judith Jordan-Tucker, a local resident who sought the family medicine doctor out for advice, gave a glowing review. “Here, everything is in one place, so it’s much easier than going to the hospital. You can ask questions and understand what the doctor is saying,” she said.

A never-ending stream of traffic and pedestrians provided ambiance throughout the two-day event. The crowd was especially diverse, old and young, business and casual, all seeking out the health expertise that most affected their quality of life. “Our goal is to help as many people as possible in a friendly setting,” Dr. Soriano said.

Other health and education opportunities during the fair included nutritional counseling, first aid education, oral hygiene education, and CPR training.

“They gave me good tips on diet and lifestyle changes to improve my general health,” said Patricia John, a smartly dressed businesswoman who worked at a nearby bank. “It’s something that’s needed. It draws the attention of the public and helps us have a better mindset going forward.”

Each day of the health fair lasted from 9 am to 1 pm, well-timed to conclude as the crowds dissipated in the harsher mid-day sun. After two days, more than 500 island residents were served, with hundreds receiving blood sugar tests, blood pressure tests, and eye exams.

Final Thoughts on LAMAT 2025

The Kingstown Health Fair was the last public facing event of the LAMAT 2025 mission to St. Vincent. It provided a well-earned conclusion to the hard work of the medical teams and military personnel involved. When everyone reached the closing ceremony, there was a palpable sense of pride and accomplishment among all who had taken part.

“To the local medical and support staff who guided us at each site, we are incredibly grateful for your collaboration. Thank you for embracing our team. We are proud of what we’ve accomplished together and look forward to future opportunities to build this partnership,” said Maj. Sam Diblasi, Deputy Mission Commander.

Following the mission, ABFM reconnected with Col. Brian Neese, SOUTHCOM Command Surgeon and ABFM Diplomate.

“When you look under the hood at this mission, you see personnel operating in a technologically austere environment with people they don’t know, working across a culture that’s foreign to them,” Dr. Neese explained. “At some point, we’re going to find ourselves deployed with people we don’t know. That mission’s success will depend on how well you can walk into the situation and make a new friend. This is an important mission to advance that cause, and I’m proud of all the people involved.”

LAMAT continued for three more weeks after the time in St. Vincent concluded. Staggered Air Force teams went on to provide medical assistance in St. Kitts and Guyana. One portion of the humanitarian effort ends as others begin. The mission of serving others never ends.

Aaron Burch serves as Editorial Content Manager for the American Board of Family Medicine. He has been writing professionally in the health care field since 2014.