FK-KMK UGM. Brian Arianto Tanuwidjaja, a student of the Medical Study Program, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing (FK-KMK) Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), won third place in the National Outstanding Student Selection competition held by the Indonesian Medical Student Senate Association (ISMKI) on Sunday (01/09). This achievement was achieved after going through a strict selection at the regional level where Brian represented ISMKI Region 3.
Brian also spoke about the challenges he faced. He admitted that even though there was pressure to maintain his achievements from the previous year, he used it as motivation. The motivation that drove him to take part in this competition was to measure his own abilities, undergo healthy competition with other participants from diverse backgrounds, and form networks with other medical students.
In this competition, Brian submitted two main projects. The first project is a paper on sugar taxing and food grading as a policy to reduce the prevalence of diabetes in Indonesia. This paper offers a policy on transparency of sugar content in food and beverages. “With clear food labels, the public will find it easier to understand healthy food choices,” Brian explained.
The second project is the GUYUB program, which is designed to improve interprofessional education in the Faculty of Health by giving students the opportunity to learn from various health disciplines holistically and directly into the community. “For example, someone with hypertension can get information about the disease from medical students, recommendations for balanced nutritional modifications from nutrition students, and information on consuming hypertension drugs from pharmacy students,” Brian explained. These two brilliant ideas brought Brian to third place in this competition.
Brian emphasized that this achievement is not the end goal. “This is an opportunity to prove yourself and make a positive contribution, not just to get a degree,” said Brian. He also highlighted that participation in the national-level outstanding student competition provides valuable lessons about the strengths and advantages of each university.
To other students, Brian expressed the importance of avoiding detrimental ambitions and focusing on yourself in order to achieve success. “I think achievement doesn’t have to be something significant or big. Improving yourself as an individual can also contribute to the environment. Small things matter.”
Through his initiatives and projects, Brian contributes to efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially in terms of healthy and prosperous lives (SDG 3), quality education (SDG 4), and partnerships for the goals (SDG 17). His efforts to reduce the prevalence of diabetes and improve interprofessional education demonstrate his commitment to sustainable development and community welfare. (Reporter:Fauziah).
