The Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sumatera Utara (FK USU), through its Clinical Nutrition Study Program, welcomed Top Scientist Visiting Professor Prof. Samath Dhamminda Dharmaratne, MBBS., MSc., MD., from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. The program was held from 10–13 August 2026 at the Clinical Nutrition Clinic, FK USU, featuring a session titled “Public Health and Nutrition Aspects in Sri Lanka and Indonesia.”

The program served as an opportunity to broaden academic perspectives on public health and nutrition issues from a global standpoint. The initiative supports SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being, which promotes improved health and well-being through evidence-based, preventive, and health-promoting approaches.

Through the Visiting Professor program, staff members and residents of the Clinical Nutrition Specialist Study Program at FK USU had the opportunity to explore and compare perspectives on public health and nutrition challenges in Sri Lanka and Indonesia. This knowledge exchange is expected to enrich academic understanding and open opportunities to develop more context-sensitive approaches to health and nutrition.

The program also contributes to SDG 4: Quality Education by facilitating cross-country learning and strengthening academic competencies through the exchange of knowledge and professional experience.

Prof. Samath’s visit also provided an opportunity to strengthen academic ties and international networks between FK USU and medical education institutions in Sri Lanka. Cross-institutional engagement such as this creates opportunities for future collaboration in education, research, and other academic activities, supporting SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, which emphasizes the importance of global partnerships in advancing sustainable development.

Through this initiative, FK USU continues to foster an academic environment that embraces global perspectives and the latest developments in health sciences, particularly in the fields of public health and clinical nutrition.