As the mission grew, so did the team. Drew Mathews, an anesthetist from Edina, MN, joined Dr. Panuska’s efforts, providing essential anesthesia support for dental and surgical procedures. He worked alongside Jim Alexander, a pharmacist at Fairview Southdale Hospital, who helped supply critical medications and analgesics.

These partnerships laid the groundwork for IHS’s transformation from a dental outreach into a comprehensive medical, surgical, and eye-care mission — reaching hundreds of villages across Honduras.

Key contributors like Dr. Paul Jensen (OB-GYN) and Dan Walker, who maintained hyperbaric chambers for divers with decompression sickness, further expanded IHS’s scope of service.

Behind the scenes, John and Dave Potter of Anchor Scientific (Long Lake, MN) managed logistics — packaging, crating, and shipping supplies aboard Dole container ships bound for Honduras. Their efforts even delivered the first cell-saver machine to La Ceiba, along with x-ray machines and ambulances that became lifelines for local hospitals.