Jeglongan are potholes in the road that can make us stumble or fall. No one’s co-assistant journey is ever 100% smooth, but today, all those struggles, sacrifices, and lessons have finally paid off.
After this, we will each choose our own paths, to go forth and serve the community, and to decide for ourselves what kind of dentist we wish to be known and remembered as.
Let us always remember the jeglongan we once passed through, the ones that made us stumble or even fall for they are what shaped us into the dentists who stand tall today.
This was an excerpt from the speech delivered by Drg. Tiffany Winata, representing the new dentists of the July 2025 period.
Getting to Know Drg. Tiffany Winata
Drg. Tiffany (Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Class of 2019) hails from Medan, North Sumatra. Her hobby is simple, cooking for everyday life. Initially, she aspired to study in the health field and even applied for a scholarship abroad, reaching the interview stage at the Japanese Embassy, but was not accepted. She then made an agreement with her parents: if she were to study in Indonesia, she would follow their choice. Her father wanted her to attend UGM, while her mother wanted her to study dentistry. Through the national SBMPTN selection, Tiffany was finally admitted to the Faculty of Dentistry at UGM (FKG UGM).
When she first set foot at FKG UGM, everything felt unfamiliar due to the cultural differences between Sumatra and Java, especially in Yogyakarta, where traditional culture remains strong. From knowing nothing and frequently asking friends for help, she has now become fairly familiar with the Javanese language, though not yet fluent in speaking it. One of Tiffany’s most valuable experiences during college was her thesis research. She spent time guarding laboratory mice at LPPT, attending online lectures by zoom surrounded by cages of mice, and even got scratched the scar remains to this day.
Her thesis focused on the number of macrophages in periodontitis and diabetes model rats treated with ethanol extract of torch ginger flowers, which can reduce blood sugar levels and gum inflammation. The journey was not always smooth, during the pre-research phase, all eight mice died because their blood sugar was too high. She had to repeat the process, and finally succeeded by day 21, the rats had recovered. The entire research took about one year (two semesters), from preparation and data collection to macrophage counting and thesis defense.
Throughout her studies, Tiffany actively participated in all areas of campus activities. “I chose to do research because, who knows, maybe in the future I’ll want to become a lecturer — at least I already have in vivoresearch experience,” said the dentist born in Medan. She also published a scientific paper (KTI) and gained teaching experience as a teaching assistant in the anatomy laboratory.
In addition, Tiffany used her time at FKG UGM to develop her managerial skills. “I joined APDSA (Asia Pacific Dental Students Association) for two events the Mid-Year Meeting in 2021 and the Annual Congress in 2023 in Bali. On campus, I also served as the president of the semi-autonomous organization Denta Paramitha, which consisted of five departments focusing on research, academics, human resource management, activities, and finance. During my clinical rotation, I learned a lot about clinical preparation, and I was often asked to accompany visiting guests,” Tiffany explained.
After graduation, drg. Tiffany plans to continue with the Indonesian Dentist Internship Program (PIDGI) under the Ministry of Health for six months. “At FKG UGM, we’ve been trained since the beginning to be ready for academic, clinical, or managerial paths, so I’ll make the most of that foundation. Wherever life takes me next, I’ll go with all my heart!”
From her experiences as a co-assistant, participating in community service, seeing patients’ happiness after treatment, watching their teeth become neat and clean, enabling them to eat well, smile again, and regain confidence. drg. Tiffany has truly enjoyed her role as a clinician. She especially loves working in the pediatric clinic, which she finds the most challenging department. “Sometimes I can’t believe how parents trust us enough to let us pick up and treat their children, even though we’re complete strangers,” she said. She feels the parents’ trust deeply, which motivates her to provide the best possible care.
Since her first year in 2019, FKG UGM has advanced tremendously. Looking ahead, Tiffany hopes that FKG UGM will continue to expand its global network and provide more opportunities for students to gain exposure outside the campus especially abroad. “Seeing the world is important,” she added, “especially to achieve the goal of producing the kind of graduates FKG UGM envisions 5-star dentists.”
Author: Andri Wicaksono | Photo: Doc. Dentist Inauguration Committee
