UNAIR NEWS – A strong passion for international medical research brought Priscilla Clarita Neda BR Sirait, a student of the Medical Study Program at the Faculty of Medicine (FK), Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR), to Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poland, from Wednesday (1/7/2026) to Friday (31/7/2026). Through the IFMSA SCORE Research Exchange program, Siraitgained a valuable opportunity to deepen her knowledge in surgery through direct learning experiences with local medical professionals.
“During the application process, I had to go through several stages, including administrative screening, an English proficiency test covering listening, reading, grammar, and an interview, followed by a three-month waiting period for the results. Thankfully, I was selected,” she said.
Gaining surgical experience in Poland
While assigned to the Cardiac Surgery and Transplantology Department at Uniwersytecki Szpital Kliniczny w Poznaniu, the teaching hospital of Poznan University of Medical Sciences, she was involved in data processing and manuscript preparation for a cohort research project entitled Managing Dyslipidemia After Heart Transplant: Strategies to Enhance Graft Survival and Patient Outcomes. In addition, Priscilla had the opportunity to observe an aortic valve replacement procedure, learn the workflow in the post-surgical intensive care unit, and assist in thoracic and cardiovascular surgeries.
“I also had the opportunity to observe, assist in surgeries, and listen to doctors explain the pathophysiology, management, and various thoracic and cardiovascular surgical procedures, such as aortic valve replacement,” she explained.
Furthermore, Sirait shared that her involvement in the post-heart transplant dyslipidemia research project under the supervision of Prof. Dr. hab. n. med. Tomasz Urbanowicz made her realize the crucial role of a clinician. According to her, an excellent clinician is not only skilled in clinical practice but is also actively engaged in research.
Contributing to UNAIR and Indonesia
After spending a month in an international academic environment, Sirait hopes to pursue further training or a fellowship abroad. She plans to establish international research collaborations by applying the valuable insights she gained in Poland to support healthcare development in Indonesia and contribute to academic advancement at UNAIR.
“I am committed to bringing back the knowledge, research methodologies, and scientific manuscript writing experience I gained to share with my colleagues at UNAIR,” she said.
Her firsthand observations of post-operative intensive care workflows and complex procedures such as aortic valve replacement have provided her with a solid foundation to contribute to the modernization and improvement of cardiac patient care services in Indonesia.
This experience not only expanded Priscilla’s expertise in surgery and medical research but also supported the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
“This international experience has broadened my perspective, helped me grow as an individual, and proved that UNAIR students are fully capable of competing and excelling on the global stage,” she concluded.
Author: Amelia Farah Putri Iswara
Editor: Yulia Rohmawati
