UNAIR NEWS – Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) celebrates another proud achievement from its alumni. Anna Kurniati, SKM, MA, PhD, an alumna from the Faculty of Public Health (FKM) and the Director of Health Human Resources Provision at Indonesia’s Ministry of Health, has been named a recipient of the NCKU Distinguished Award by the College of Medicine at National Cheng Kung University (NCKU), Taiwan.
The award was personally presented by Prof Cheng Hsiu-Chi, MD, PhD, Dean of the NCKU College of Medicine, in recognition of Kurniati’s substantial contributions to developing policies, education systems, and governance practices related to Indonesia’s health workforce. Kurniati described the honor as both meaningful and deeply motivating, especially as a reminder to remain a role model for her family.
“Professionally, this recognition also belongs to the Ministry of Health, which has given me enormous opportunities to grow, maximize my potential, and demonstrate my commitment to advancing Indonesia’s health workforce. It has allowed me to expand global networks and contribute real value to strengthening our national health system,” she said.
Driving meaningful reforms
Kurniati believes that NCKU selected her based on her long-standing record in spearheading important reforms. Her work spans regulatory and policy restructuring for health human resources, overhauling specialist medical education, and improving systems for deploying health workers nationwide.
“I also actively represent Indonesia in the Asia Pacific Action Alliance on Human Resources for Health. Recently, I was entrusted with an additional role as Head of the Poltekkes WHO Collaborating Centre, which aims to position Poltekkes (Health Polythechnic) as a leading institution for vocational health education and a key player in the global collaboration network for nursing and midwifery,” she added.
Through these efforts, Kurniati became the sole Indonesian recipient in this year’s award category, further solidifying UNAIR alumni’s visibility on the global stage. “I gained so much from this journey, learning to be braver, more open-minded, and willing to seek mentors who can guide me. The support of my family, especially my husband, has been an incredible source of strength,” she said.
Elevating UNAIR’s global reputation
Kurniati encouraged UNAIR students with ambitions to compete internationally to embrace challenges rather than shy away from them. “Step out of your comfort zone, growth happens there. Major achievements always begin with small steps. Appreciate the process, and be grateful for every accomplishment, no matter how small,” she advised.
For her, the award also reflects positively on UNAIR’s standing in the global academic community. She hopes UNAIR will continue producing health professionals who are skilled, principled, and confident in pursuing international opportunities. “I hope this award serves not just as a mark of pride but also as a reminder of the responsibility to uphold UNAIR’s good name, my beloved alma mater,” she said.
Author: Mohammad Adif Albarado
Editor: Ragil Kukuh Imanto
