UNAIR NEWS – Nando Reza Pratama, an alumnus of the Faculty of Medicine (FK) Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR), has made one of his dreams come true. It is his dream to study abroad. Since October 2022, Nando has been studying at Oxford University, majoring in Master of Science in Modeling for Global Health.

Nando said that he wanted to view health problems in a broader sense. “I want to study health in a broader sense, such as how to design and implement policies to solve health problems. Then how to manage existing resources to solve the problem,” he said.

Study infectious diseases
Moreover, as a tropical country, various infectious diseases occur in Indonesia. “These infectious diseases cause significant health problems. As a developing country, Indonesia has limited resources that must be managed properly to solve problems,” he said.

Nando revealed that he was interested in learning how to manage infectious diseases in developed countries like England. One of the concentrations is infection caused by the dengue virus. What Nando wants to research is the effectiveness of the dengue vaccine in reducing the spread of the virus.

“My research focuses on vaccination. Its economic impact, the spread of the disease, and the funds needed. Whether this investment in the form of a vaccine can have an effective impact or not,” he explained.

Nando chose Oxford University because it is known as one of the best universities to study infectious diseases. Oxford University also has a collaborative unit with Indonesia called the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit (OUCRU) Indonesia. This unit is also found in various other countries. Apart from studying, Nando wanted to expand his network while studying there.

“Studying at Oxford University is not only about gaining knowledge but also broadening network. So if you need cooperation to build better Indonesian health services, I already established various networks,” he said.

Dream of becoming a professor
Furthermore, Nando explained that he was interested in becoming an academic. This dream came to mind when he focused on research and published scientific journals with FK UNAIR lecturers. He also did not deny that he wanted to become a professor in the future.

“I want to be a professor. Because in my opinion, with professorship, one’s ability is recognized,“ he explained.

Parents motivate Nando to continue to take steps toward achieving his dreams. He hopes that after completing his education at Oxford University, he can provide the best health services to the community.

“I always remember that I live not for myself but as a servant for society. I have to improve my quality to provide the best service to the community, “he said. (*)

Author: Icha Nur Imami Puspita

Editor: Binti Q. Masruroh

Source : unair.ac.id/en/interested-in-infectious-diseases-unair-alumnus-studies-at-oxford-university