The Master’s Program in Tropical Medicine (MKT), Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sumatera Utara (FK USU), held an outreach session with the Indonesian Veterinary Medical Association (PDHI) North Sumatra Branch and the Department of Agriculture and Food Security on Thursday, July 30, 2026. Held in the Tropical Medicine Master’s Program Lecture Room at FK USU, the activity aimed to strengthen collaborative networks and introduce the Master’s Program in Tropical Medicine to stakeholders in animal health and public health.
The delegation from the PDHI North Sumatra Branch was led by its Chair, drh. Chalikul Bahri, and was welcomed by the Head of the Master’s Program in Tropical Medicine, Prof. Dr. dr. Arlinda Sari Wahyuni, M.Kes., FISPH, FISCM., Sp.KKLP., Subsp. FOMC.
During the meeting, Prof. Arlinda presented an overview of the Master’s Program in Tropical Medicine, including its curriculum, research focus, and opportunities for collaboration in education, research, and community service. The discussion also highlighted the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to addressing tropical diseases and zoonoses, which requires collaboration among human healthcare professionals, veterinarians, academics, and government institutions.
The activity is aligned with the implementation of the One Health concept, which emphasizes the interconnectedness of human health, animal health, and environmental sustainability in addressing infectious disease challenges in tropical regions.
This collaboration also contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) through strengthening educational capacity and tropical disease control, as well as SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) through strategic partnerships among higher education institutions, professional organizations, and government agencies.
Through this outreach session, FK USU hopes to establish sustainable collaboration in the development of tropical medicine education and research, thereby contributing to the advancement of innovation and the development of human resources capable of improving public health in Indonesia.