The Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) had the opportunity to receive a visit from the Medan Branch of Dompet Dhuafa Waspada, represented directly by Branch Leader Mr. Sulaiman. The visit was warmly welcomed by Prof. Dr. dr. Aldy Safruddin Rambe, Sp.S(K), Dean of the Faculty of Medicine USU, accompanied by Dr. rer. medic., dr. M. Ichwan M.Sc, Sp.KKLP, Subsp. FOMC., Head of the Master's Program in Biomedical Science and Expert Staff for Research and Collaboration at the Faculty of Medicine USU. The meeting occurred in the Dean's Office on Wednesday, July 16, 2025.
Prof. Dr. dr. Aldy Safruddin Rambe, Sp.S(K), expressed his support for various programs by Dompet Dhuafa Waspada, such as humanitarian initiatives, empowerment programs, and the distribution of zakat, infaq, alms, and waqf funds that have been implemented so far. The presence of Dr. Ichwan marks an important step in strengthening discussions on the potential for strategic collaboration between the academic world and zakat-based social institutions.
Prof. Aldy noted that Dompet Dhuafa Waspada's contributions to education, health, social programs, and community empowerment have significantly impacted underprivileged communities across North Sumatra.
"We deeply appreciate the efforts of Dompet Dhuafa. Their work aligns with our strong commitment to community service at FK USU. Soon, we are ready to participate actively, particularly in priority issues such as stunting and community-based healthcare services," he said.
He also added that the schools supported by Dompet Dhuafa present strategic entry points for FK USU to carry out systematic and sustainable community service activities.
"We will conduct a needs assessment in those areas, not just in the form of educational outreach, but also through direct actions such as prevention and treatment programs," he added.
Meanwhile, Dompet Dhuafa Waspada Branch Leader Sulaiman shared several achievements of his organization in distributing zakat, infaq, and alms funds entrusted by the public.
"From January to July 2025, 43,956 beneficiaries have felt the impact of our various programs, which span across education, health, and the strengthening of productive economic sectors," he stated.
Sulaiman also expressed his gratitude for FK USU's openness and collaborative spirit in building a partnership focused on long-term impact.
As additional information, FK USU and Dompet Dhuafa Waspada have already conducted various community service initiatives in Bulu Cina Village, Hamparan Perak Subdistrict, Deli Serdang Regency, and Secanggang Subdistrict, Langkat Regency. In the future, this synergy will be expanded to include economic empowerment programs, such as the production of nutritious Tempe Sehat—an initiative that also received a positive response from Prof. Aldy.
This collaborative initiative represents a strategic partnership between higher education institutions and philanthropic organizations in addressing grassroots social challenges. Through academic support and a broad service network, FK USU and Dompet Dhuafa Waspada demonstrate that cross-sector synergy is key to building a healthy, empowered, and sustainably intelligent society.