UNAIR NEWS – The Faculty of Public Health (FKM) Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) organized the 8th International Symposium on Public Health (ISoPH) on September 17-18, 2024, at the Shangri-La Hotel in Surabaya. This year’s event, themed “Opportunities and Challenges in Developing AI-Based Public Health,” highlighted the increasing role of artificial intelligence in public health.
The symposium was officially opened by UNAIR’s Director of Academic Affairs, Prof. Dr. Sukardiman, MS Apt, and the Dean of FKM UNAIR, Dr. Santi Martini, M.Kes. Ni Gusti Ayu Pramita Aswitami, S.Si.T, M.Keb, Chair of the 8th ISoPH, noted that the event saw the participation of over 200 attendees both online and in person, with 179 registered oral presenters.
Setiaji, ST, MSi, Chief Digital Transformation Officer at Indonesia’s Ministry of Health, attended the conference, which was supported by PT Soho Global Health and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Kemendikbudristek). The event featured experts from Indonesia, Taiwan, New Zealand, Malaysia, and Japan. Participants included students and academics from various countries, such as Indonesia, Brunei Darussalam, India, Malaysia, and Gambia, attending both virtually and in person.
Prof. Santi Martini, Dean of FKM UNAIR, explained that ISoPH initially served as a platform for research publication, especially for doctoral students in public health. “What began as a seminar focusing on PhD students has expanded to include students from universities throughout Indonesia,” she said.
Discussion session of 8th ISoPH held by FKM UNAIR (Photo: PKIP)
Adapting to technological change
Prof. Martini also discussed why this year’s symposium focused on the integration of technology in public health. She emphasized that digitalization and AI are increasingly relevant to public health practices. “As public health professionals, we must stay abreast of societal changes and challenges. Technology, especially AI, has become an integral part of our daily lives, affecting education, public health practices, data analysis, and healthcare services,” she said.
She highlighted the event’s significance in positioning FKM UNAIR at the forefront of technological adaptation. “We aim to promote the use of artificial intelligence in public health. It is not only the fields of medicine or engineering that can maximize this technology; at FKM UNAIR, we play a vital role in nurturing the application of AI technology.”
Building networks
She also underscored the networking opportunities created by the symposium. “Students can establish connections with institutions both within Indonesia and abroad, expanding their networks and gaining concrete individual benefits. The event also provides a valuable platform for academic publications,” she explained.
She hoped that the symposium would result in impactful outcomes, such as international partnerships, collaborative journal publications, and staff exchanges that align with UNAIR’s strategic goals.
Strategic partnerships
The 8th ISoPH was supported by a grant from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology through the BKII batch 1 program in 2024. FKM UNAIR also partnered with PT Soho Global Health, which shared the symposium’s goal of advancing public health and showcased its healthcare products at the event.
Head of Medical Affairs at PT Soho Global Health, dr. Sandi Perutama Gani, emphasized the need for greater awareness of public health issues and solutions. He also discussed the company’s product innovations aimed at meeting community health needs. “We are thankful to be part of this event, and we want to show how our products are designed to serve public needs. We hope to see a healthier Indonesia in the future,” he said.
Dr. Gani also expressed optimism about the partnership with UNAIR, hoping it would generate new ideas and foster mutual growth. He anticipated positive discussions on global health challenges and the advancement of community health research.
Author: Ragil Kukuh Imanto
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