UNAIR NEWS – Four students from the Medicine Undergraduate Program, Faculty of Medicine (FK), Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR), once again brought pride to their university. They secured both first and second place in the Regional Medical Olympiad (RMO) 2025 for the Cardio-Respiratory category, held over five days (Oct 1–5, 2025) at Universitas Nahdlatul Ulama Surabaya (UNUSA). The winning teams were composed of Anthony Camilo Lim and Zaskia Nafisa Salma (Team 1) and Adam Rafi Saputra with Diana Annabelle Situmorang (Team 2).
Dedicated delegates in cardio-respiratory
According to Anthony Camilo Lim, the RMO is an annual competition, and this year marked his return as UNAIR’s permanent delegate for the Cardio-Respiratory field.
“The remaining team members were chosen from the top three candidates through an internal faculty selection,” he explained.
Lim has been passionate about the field since high school. During the competition, both UNAIR teams successfully passed three stages: a preliminary round featuring 120 multiple-choice questions (MCQ); a semifinal round involving seven teams through Objective Structured Practical Examination (OSPE) and Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE); and a final round that brought together the top three teams in a Quiz Bowl challenge. Preparation began in May, with regular study sessions that grew more intensive as the competition approached.
“We trained rigorously before the event, dividing topics among team members to focus our learning,” he said.
Preparation that led to victory
Zaskia Nafisa Salma shared that their biggest challenge was limited mentoring time with faculty supervisors. However, strong support from the Faculty Student Executive Board (BEM) and the faculty helped them overcome this hurdle.
“The BEM provided a dedicated study room where we could practice daily from 3 to 6 p.m. The faculty also issued recognition letters for our supervisors, offering performance credits, and granted midterm exam exemptions since the competition coincided with the exam week,” she explained.
Salma said the team felt confident during the event, thanks to their thorough preparation. During the final round, both UNAIR teams faced each other—it felt just like our practice sessions at campus. That made us calmer, more optimistic, and eager to fight for the championship,” she added.
Faith and teamwork behind victory
For Diana Annabelle Situmorang, discipline, teamwork, and a composed mindset played a vital role in their success. “Supporting each other in the team was essential—it really helped reduce our anxiety,” she said.
Situmorang also emphasized that hard work combined with prayer is the true formula for success. “It’s not about being the smartest—it’s about how God helps us through,” she reflected. She added that the victory strengthened her confidence to continue improving herself.
Situmorang offered a message of encouragement to her peers as a closing statement. “Never give up, even if you feel less capable than others. With discipline, a supportive environment, and sincere prayers, you can achieve anything you aspire to,” she concluded.
Author: Bethari Sri Indrajayanti
Editor: Khefti Al Mawalia
