Opening up Collaborative Opportunities, Oklahoma State University Delegation Visits Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Health Sciences at UIN Jakarta

Ciputat, UIN News Online - The Faculty of Medicine (FK) and the Faculty of Health Sciences (FIKes) at UIN Jakarta welcomed a delegation from Oklahoma State University (OSU) on Wednesday, June 26, 2024. The meeting was attended by various key officials from both institutions. Representing UIN Jakarta were Vice Rector for Cooperation and Institutional Development, Din Wahid, Ph.D., Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Dr. dr. Achmad Zaki, M.Epid., Sp.OT. FICS, Vice Dean III of FK UIN Jakarta, drg. Laifa, Vice Dean II of FK UIN Jakarta, Dr. Erike Anggraini Suwarsono, M.Pd., SpMK, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences Prof. Dr. Apt. Zilhadia, Vice Dean for Cooperation and Student Affairs of FIKes Dr. Uswatun Hasanah, Academic Vice Dean of FIKes Dr. Nurmeilis, as well as Program Chairs from both faculties.

From Oklahoma State University, President of OSU Center for Health Sciences and Senior Vice President for Health Affairs Johnny Stephens, Pharm.D., Director of Global Medicine and Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine Johnathon Lowe, DO, MS-GH, as well as Assistant Dean of OSU Global and Director of Global Partnerships Jeffrey J. Simpson, Ph.D., were present.

During the meeting, introductions were made regarding the Faculty of Health Sciences and the Faculty of Medicine at UIN Jakarta, as well as an introduction to the OSU Center for Health Sciences (OSU-CHS). OSU-CHS is a state medical school in Tulsa, Oklahoma, offering a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree and over fifteen other graduate degrees. "OSU-CHS focuses on the education and training of osteopathic physicians, scientists, and health professionals, with an emphasis on serving rural and underserved areas in Oklahoma," said Johnny Stephens.

Discussions on potential collaborations encompassed various topics, including research and publications on HIV and multidrug resistance presented by Dr. Erike, as well as tuberculosis and tropical diseases prevalent in Oklahoma. Johnny Stephens introduced Project ECHO, a revolutionary guided practice model that reduces health disparities in underserved areas through innovative telementoring. "The ECHO model employs a knowledge-sharing approach where teams of experts lead virtual clinics to enhance healthcare providers' capacity to deliver optimal care within their own communities," explained Stephens.

The possibility of digitally signing a quick and cost-effective Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) process was also discussed during this occasion. "The digital signing process is feasible and templates from UIN Jakarta can be utilized," said Jeffrey J. Simpson. Additionally, Dr. Laifa suggested the potential for short-term student mobility, while Johnathon Lowe mentioned opportunities for medical students to participate in rotations at OSU health centers.

This visit is expected to pave the way for broader cooperation between UIN Jakarta and Oklahoma State University, enhancing the quality of education and research in the field of health sciences.

(PIH)