Towada University students visit the 35th MDG

By Airman Xiomara M. Martinez , 35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs / Published November 09, 2017

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U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Tou Yang, a 35th Surgical Squadron medical technician, briefs the nursing students from Towada University at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Oct. 30, 2017. In the surgical section, Yang showed the Japanese students various machines used during child birth. The purpose of the shadowing program is for the nursing students from the university to view how an American hospital functions. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Xiomara M. Martinez)

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U.S. Air Force Col. Jeanette Frantal, the 35th Medical Group deputy commander, briefs Japanese students shadowing 35th Fighter Wing medical personnel at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Oct. 30, 2017. The Towada University students are studying to become nurses, and this tour allowed them to see how American hospitals function. Tours such as these support the Pacific Air Forces’ command strategy that includes expanding engagement outreach in order to keep alliances strong. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Xiomara M. Martinez)

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Aki Higashi, a nursing student at Towada University, checks a mannequin’s pulse during a 35th Medical Group tour at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Oct. 30, 2017. U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Crystal Mabanta, a 35th Surgical Squadron clinical nurse, and Col. Jeanette Frantal, the 35th Medical Group deputy commander, hosted about 30 Japanese students showing them around various sections of the hospital such as physical therapy and immunizations. The yearly tour supports the Pacific Air Forces’ command strategy that includes expanding engagement outreach in order to keep alliances strong. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Xiomara M. Martinez)

MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- About 30 Japanese nursing students from Towada University toured the 35th Medical Group at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Oct. 30.

The purpose of the shadowing program is for the nursing students from the university to view how an American hospital functions.

“You can see how happy the Japanese nurses are when we're showing them how different sections in the hospital work,” said 1st Lt. Crystal Mabanta, a 35th Surgical Squadron clinical nurse. “They get to learn from us, and it makes me very happy getting to teach people.”

During the program, students were taught how to check the pulse of a mannequin and what to do in the case of a seizure. The nurses shadowed medical personnel in each section as they talked about what a typical day at the hospital is like.

Akane Tanaka, one of the nursing students from Towada University expressed how much she enjoyed the tour overall.

“My favorite part was the ambulance because of the vast differences between the American models and the ones I’m used to viewing.” said Tanaka.

The yearly tours support Pacific Air Forces’ command strategy that includes expanding engagement outreach, enhancing trust and support with Misawa’s allies and partners.

“I think we should do this event more often,” said Mabanta. “For nurses, the learning experience is huge, especially when our nurses go to Japanese hospitals to learn different surgical, gynecological or other kinds of procedures. I hope the students had fun shadowing us and gained a basic understanding of how an American hospital functions.”