Medan, 7 August 2026 — The Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sumatera Utara (FK USU), welcomed Daniel Mahadzir, Head of the Innovation Unit at the SingHealth Duke-NUS Global Health Institute (SDGHI), for an initial discussion on potential collaboration and joint research. The meeting was held in the Dean’s Meeting Room on the second floor of FK USU and was welcomed by Vice Dean for Cooperation Prof. Dr. dr. Dina Keumala Sari, M.Gizi, Sp.GK, Subsp.PK, together with dr. Ivana Alona, MPH., Sp.KKLP, and dr. Sunna Vyatra Hutagalung, MS, Ph.D.

The meeting marked an initial step toward expanding FK USU’s international research network in health and medicine, particularly through knowledge exchange, joint research development, and opportunities to produce innovative solutions that can benefit communities. The initiative aligns with SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, which highlights the importance of global partnerships in advancing sustainable development.

Vice Dean for Cooperation at FK USU, Prof. Dr. dr. Dina Keumala Sari, expressed the faculty’s openness to collaboration opportunities that can strengthen research capacity and generate meaningful impact.

“We hope this initial discussion can develop into concrete and sustainable research collaborations by leveraging the strengths of each institution to produce research that is relevant and impactful for public health,” she said.

The initiative also supports SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being, as stronger health research capacity plays an important role in developing evidence-based solutions to improve healthcare services and community health outcomes.

The proposed collaboration is expected to serve as a starting point for a range of joint initiatives, including cross-institutional research, health innovation, and capacity building for academics and researchers. These efforts also contribute to SDG 4: Quality Education by strengthening the academic environment, facilitating knowledge exchange, and enhancing human resource capacity in medicine and healthcare.

Through its engagement with SDGHI, FK USU continues to strengthen its commitment to becoming a medical education institution that excels not only in education and research but also in generating meaningful impact for society through global collaboration and sustainable innovation.