Press Release
☷Michigan Guard medical team saves life while mentoring Liberian partners
U.S. Army ( By Press Release office)
May 03,2022
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U . S . Army Capt . Matthew Gomberg , a battalion physician assistant assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company , 3rd Battalion , 126th Infantry Regiment ( 3 - 126th IN ) , Michigan National Guard ( MING ) assisted emergency room staff at 14 Military Hospital in Monrovia , Liberia to save this man ' s life April 26 , 2022 . MING ' s State Partnership Program with Liberia was on full display as various medial units conducted a medical "best practices" exchange in Monrovia April 25 - 29 , 2022 , at the hospital . Together with the AFL , MING helped establish the facility in September 2021 , making it the country ' s first military hospital . ( U . S . Army National Guard photo by Capt . Joe Legros ) U . S . Army Capt . Matthew Gomberg , a battalion physician assistant assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company , 3rd Battalion , 126th Infantry Regiment ( 3 - 126th IN ) , Michigan National Guard ( MING ) stands with a cardiac patient in 14 Military Hospital in Monrovia , Liberia April 26 , 2022 . The man had died the day before , but MING ' s medical team assisted hospital staff to bring him back to life . MING ' s State Partnership Program with Liberia was on full display as various medial units conducted a medical "best practices" exchange in Monrovia April 25 - 29 , 2022 , at the hospital . Together with the AFL , MING helped establish the facility in September 2021 , making it the country ' s first military hospital . ( U . S . Army National Guard photo by Capt . Joe Legros ) U . S . Air Force Master Sgt . Kristal Avila , health systems technician with 110th Medical Group , 110th Air Wing , Michigan Air National Guard ( MING ) , sits with Natu Strathy , a native - born Liberian nurse and medical consultant at 14 Military Hospital in Monrovia , Liberia , April 26 , 2022 . MING ' s State Partnership Program with Liberia was on full display as various medial units conducted a medical "best practices" exchange in Monrovia April 25 - 29 , 2022 , at the hospital . Together with the AFL , MING helped establish the facility in September 2021 , making it the country ' s first military hospital . ( U . S . Army National Guard photo by Capt . Joe Legros ) U . S . Army Staff Sgt . James Dewitt , a combat medic assigned to 3rd Battalion , 126th Infantry Regiment ( 3 - 126th IN ) , Michigan National Guard ( MING ) , assists emergency room staff at 14 Military Hospital in Monrovia , Liberia April 26 , 2022 . MING ' s State Partnership Program with Liberia was on full display as various medial units conducted a medical "best practices" exchange in Monrovia April 25 - 29 , 2022 , at the hospital . Together with the AFL , MING helped establish the facility in September 2021 , making it the country ' s first military hospital . ( U . S . Army National Guard photo by Capt . Joe Legros ) U . S . Air Force Master Sgt . Kristal Avila , health systems technician with 110th Medical Group , 110th Air Wing , Michigan Air National Guard ( MING ) , stands with Vorlor C . Ross , newborn intensive care unit nurse and Zoe C . Giah , student nurse , at 14 Military Hospital in Monrovia , Liberia April 26 , 2022 . MING ' s State Partnership Program with Liberia was on full display as various medial units conducted a medical "best practices" exchange in Monrovia April 25 - 29 , 2022 , at the hospital . Together with the AFL , MING helped establish the facility in September 2021 , making it the country ' s first military hospital . ( U . S . Army National Guard photo by Capt . Joe Legros ) U . S . Army Capt . Matthew Gomberg , right , a battalion physician assistant assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company , and Sgt . Gustavo Pop Monroy , combat medic , both assigned to 3rd Battalion , 126th Infantry Regiment ( 3 - 126th IN ) , Michigan National Guard ( MING ) assist emergency room staff at 14 Military Hospital in Monrovia , Liberia April 26 , 2022 . MING ' s State Partnership Program with Liberia was on full display as various medial units conducted a medical "best practices" exchange in Monrovia April 25 - 29 , 2022 , at the hospital . Together with the AFL , MING helped establish the facility in September 2021 , making it the country ' s first military hospital . ( U . S . Army National Guard photo by Capt . Joe Legros ) The man was dead . “He completely flatlined for a little over two minutes , ” said U . S . Army Capt . Matthew Gomberg , a battalion physician assistant assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company , 3rd Battalion , 126th Infantry Regiment ( 3 - 126th IN ) , Michigan National Guard ( MING ) . “Without the emergency medical team’s intervention , the patient would have certainly passed away , ” he added . Gomberg’s medical team visited the hospital as part of Michigan’s State Partnership Program ( SPP ) with Liberia . MING began working with the Armed Forces of Liberia ( AFL ) in November 2009 , assisting the country with their medical response to infectious disease , engineering support and exchange of military best practices . The SPP is unique in that it links a state ' s National Guard with the military forces of another country in a mutually beneficial military partnership . Although many previous engagements involved sharing of military best practices , this current weeklong visit , from April 25 - 29 , 2022 , focused exclusively on advancing the capabilities of Liberia’s 14 Military Hospital . For one man , the visit could not have come at a more opportune time . A 72 - year - old man was admitted to 14 Military Hospital on April 25 , 2022 , complaining of cardiac chest pains . After monitoring his heart with the hospital’s new electrocardiogram ( EKG , based on the German spelling ) , emergency room ( ER ) personnel immediately knew the man was in critical condition . “The EKG indicated he had a potentially lethal cardiac arrythmia , ” Gomberg said . This means the man had an improper electrical pattern in his heart . The medics attempted treatment with medication , but his condition continued to destabilize . And then his heart stopped . “We immediately administered CPR , ” said Gomberg . “We managed to get his pulse back after he died , but he still had an unstable rhythm . At that point he was defibrillated and a normal heart rhythm was restored . ” The man was kept in the hospital overnight for observation and tests , but the next morning he was alert and eventually released under the care of his family . This marks the first ever cardiac resuscitation performed at the hospital . It was also the first day of the Michigan medical team’s visit . The rest of the week , the team provided a combination of side - by - side mentorship as well as assessment of current medical and administrative capabilities . Along with their life - saving intervention in the ER , activities also included orthopedic surgeries , hands - on suture training , assistance in the newborn intensive care unit ( NICU ) , the hospital’s infant and child malnutrition program and logistics planning support . MING is dedicated to their Liberian partnership as the cross - collaboration benefits both militaries , including the continued advancement of the recently opened hospital , the first military hospital in the country’s history . Gomberg was joined by members of Michigan’s Air and Army National Guard . U . S . Army Staff Sgt . James Dewitt and Sgt . Gustavo Pop Monroy , combat medics also assigned to 3 - 126th IN , spent their week providing mentorship to the staff for responding to a variety of adult and pediatric emergencies . Also joining the team was U . S . Army 1st Lt . Michael Bearup , executive officer for the 1171st Medical Company Area Support , 146th Medical Battalion , who assessed the ER , finance , human resources , triage operations , as well as pharmaceutical and supply requests . “It was ideal timing that our team was going over EKG and heart monitoring on day one , ” said Bearup . “Because two of the first few patients we saw in the ER had major heart issues . ” Thankfully , the team was able to address , mentor the staff and assist in both patient recoveries . Along with their Army counterparts , U . S . Air Force 1st Lt . Hannah MacDonald , Medical Service Corps , and Master Sgt . Kristal Avila , health systems technician with 110th Medical Group , both assigned to the 110th Air Wing , MING , assessed and provided guidance on numerous functional areas . “We’re sending three medical teams to work closely with Liberian partners over a six - week period this summer , ” said MacDonald . “Our current visit will tell us which areas need the most focus at the hospital . ” Thus far , she mentioned healthcare administration and nursing leadership will be critical areas for further development . This is MacDonald’s second visit to 14 Military Hospital . She is amazed how far they came since her last time in the country , back in September when the hospital opened . Avila echoed the sentiment . “This has been an amazing experience , ” said Avila . “My favorite part was working with the young moms and infants in the children’s malnutrition program . ” The FEMA - backed malnutrition program provides food , infant health monitoring and nutritional guidance to ensure healthy development during the first years of life . This program , as well as the entire hospital’s continued success could not be possible without numerous contributions from those inside and outside the organization . Staff members , Dr . Kevin Strathy , an American retired plastic and reconstructive surgeon , and his wife , Natu , a native - born Liberian nurse , serve as medical consultants inside the hospital . Together they started a medical non - profit to attain donations of supplies and equipment . Natu , who received medical training in England , continually mentors the hospital’s nursing staff . Her focus is primarily on making each section of the hospital more efficient and developing additional capabilities , such as introducing a burn victim unit . Meanwhile , Dr . Strathy teamed with Gomberg to lead a series of suture courses over the week - long medical exchange . They discussed different stitching techniques , then mentored hospital staff as they conducted hands - on sutures with pig feet . “Getting proficient with stitching or suturing will not only help with healing , but it also helps make sure conditions are more sanitary , ” said Strathy . They emphasized wearing gloves and properly closing wounds to prevent infection . This is very important in an area of the world where antibiotics are in short supply . This is also where organizations outside the hospital come into play . “Currently , MING collaborates with U . S . African Command ( AFRICOM ) , the U . S . Embassy in Liberia , the U . S . Agency for International Development , the CDC and many other groups , ” said U . S . Army Maj . Jason Everts , MING’s bilateral affairs officer to U . S . African Command ( AFRICOM ) based in Liberia . “The AFL and 14 Military Hospital are doing incredible work , ” he added . “We value their partnership and we’re continually looking for more ways to assist them in serving the people of Liberia . ” Based on the current visit , Michigan determined that more focus must be given to preventive medicine , stroke awareness and burn victim treatment . However , one thing is very clear: the hospital is already saving lives . But the word must get out . More people need to know . “I tell those who are sick or hurt that they should pray , ” said Everts . “But pray on your way to the hospital!”
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