NEWS UNAIR – Efforts to improve institutional reputation can be done through various ways including developing collaboration strategy with foreign institutions.
As the second oldest medical education institution in Indonesia, Faculty of Medicine (FK), Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR), consistently establishes and maintains mutual collaboration with various medical education institutions abroad. One of them is University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), The Netherlands.
Marking the eleven years of collaboration, FK UNAIR, through the Department of Pediatrics, FK UNAIR-Dr. Soetomo together with UMCG and Gramik-Folia Medica Indonesiana Unit, FK UNAIR, held a guest lecture from an international experts. The event held at FK Hall, UNAIR, October 13 was attended by Prof. Mijna Hadders-Algra, MD, Ph.D from Beatrix Children Hospital, University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), The Netherlands.
Prof. Mijna is the inventor and pioneer of infant motor profile (IMP), an early detection method of brain development disorder to the child through observation of movement with the aid of tools and video. She was also a successful researcher who publishes her scientific papers in 34 Scopus indexed international journals.
Prof. Mijna’s positive reputation was quite influential in the development of Pediatrics sciences in the Department of Pediatrics, FK UNAIR-Dr. Soetomo, especially the development of IMP method in Indonesia.
One of the alumni of FK, UNAIR, who had the opportunity to learn IMP techniques directly to Prof. Mijna is Dr. Ahmad Suryawan, dr., Sp.A (K). In 2006, the doctor known better as Wawan had  the opportunity to represent the Department of Pediatrics, FK UNAIR-RSUD Dr. Soetomo to follow a pediatric fellowship at the Institute’s Developmental Neurology, Beatrix Children’s Hospital.
“On the occasion, unexpectedly, Prof. Mijna became my mentor,” he said in presence of audience.
While he was there, Wawan learned to master IMP method in depth. The method can be applied to children aged 3-18 months. At that time the method was not very popular, including in Indonesia.
During his education there, Wawan have done a lot of researches with Prof. Mijna for many years. One of the memorable experiences, he added, was when Prof. Mijna invited him to join the basic training course.
“At first, I was worried. Because, in calculation, the cost of the training was worth the rent of my apartment for three months. However, I was lucky as Prof. Mijna finally allow me to join the training for free, ” he explained.
From the training, he obtained a basic level certificate from Prof. Mijna. In 2009, Wawan got an advanced level certificate.
“During in Prof. Mijna’s mentoring, my research was very affected by the development of Pediatrics sciences at Dr. Soetomo. Therefore, to get a certificate of advance level, a lot of researches should be conducted, “he said.
For the first time, Prof. Mijna presented her expertise in Indonesia in 2009. FK UNAIR through the Department of Pediatrics, FK UNAIR-Dr. Soetomo and the Association of Indonesian Pediatricians (IDAI) in collaboration with University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG) held an IMP training event that has never been held in Southeast Asia.
Through such collaboration, Prof. Mijna brings her knowledge into Indonesia and Surabaya was the first. The Faculty of Medicine UNAIR was the first entry point of IMP method in Indonesia. Later, the training activities continued in the implementation of the International Course General Movement 2010 which was followed by pediatricians from all over Indonesia.
After years of consistent researches with Prof. Mijna, Wawan’s research finally won some awards. At national level, the research related to IMP technique development won the best oral paper presentation in the national pedriatic science meeting in Bandung. Then, it won an award in the same category in KONIKA event. Meanwhile, at international level, three researches related to IMP method also won a scholarship award in international congress of pediatrics.
Furthermore, through the results of research collaboration, Wawan had the opportunity to bring the name of FK UNAIR-Dr. Soetomo to present his research in presence of dozens of experts in the field of IMP in commemoration of 400 years of Groningen University in 2014.
“Adopting IMP methods from the Netherlands to enter Indonesia was not easy. The process was extraordinarily difficult because of the scientific mechanism of Prof Mijna has not been discovered. So, we must try to adjust it to the conditions in Surabaya, ” he said.
In 2015, Wawan and his team of Pediatricians Dr. Soetomo-FK UNAIR developed his research into a collaborative research with University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG) named longitudinal long-term growth of premature babies born in Dr. Soetomo.
Since then, the collaboration has grown in various exchange programs among lecturers and students of specialist medical education programs (PPDS). The research collaboration continues to this day.
“Finally we successfully re-enter our IMP method back to Indonesia. And, for two days, we held a workhsop at JW Mariott on 14-15 October 2017 for the first time in Indonesia, “he said.
Author: Sefya Hayu Istighfaricha
Editor: Feri Fenoria
