Educational mentoring in conservative dentistry specialization has become part of a broader strategy to address the unequal distribution of dental specialists in Indonesia.
Efforts to expand access to dental health services through strengthening specialist education have gained new momentum. The Faculty of Dentistry at Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta (FKG UMS), represented by Dean Dr. drg. Noor Hafida Widyastuti, Sp.KG; Vice Dean for Academic Affairs drg. Morita Sari, MPH., Dr.PH; and Vice Dean for Finance & Assets drg. Septriyani Kaswindiarti, MDSc., Sp.KGA, signed a cooperation agreement with the Faculty of Dentistry at Universitas Gadjah Mada (FKG UGM) regarding mentorship for the establishment of a Specialist Dental Education Program (PPDGS) in Conservative Dentistry.
The FKG UMS delegation was welcomed by the full board of FKG UGM’s deanship and the Head of the Cooperation Unit. This collaboration goes beyond administrative formalities; it is positioned as a response to Indonesia’s long-standing structural challenges—namely the shortage and unequal distribution of dental specialists, particularly outside Java.
In his remarks, the Dean of FKG UGM emphasized that the need for dental specialists, especially in conservative dentistry, remains far from ideal. The Ministry of Health has repeatedly highlighted the gap between the limited number of specialists and actual public health service needs. Therefore, establishing PPDGS programs at academically prepared universities requires concrete support.
“The establishment of this program is not merely an institutional interest, but part of a national solution. The challenge lies not only in numbers, but in equitable distribution,” stated Dean of FKG UGM, Prof. drg. Suryono, S.H., M.M., Ph.D.
From Mentorship to Regional Responsibility
FKG UGM will serve as the mentoring institution, assisting with curriculum development, learning systems, and human resource strengthening. This mentorship model has previously been implemented by UGM in developing specialist education programs in various regions.
UGM also stressed the importance of an affirmative approach in student admissions, prioritizing candidates from regions that lack specialist personnel.
UGM’s academic responsibility areas, particularly Central Java and Kalimantan, are identified as initial priorities. A similar approach is expected to be replicated by other universities according to their service regions, forming a national network for equitable distribution of dental specialists.
UMS: This Collaboration Is a Beginning, Not an End
From UMS’s perspective, the signing of this agreement marks only the initial phase of a long process to establish the Conservative Dentistry Specialist Program. Mentorship from FKG UGM is considered crucial to ensure the new program meets national educational standards and regulations.
“We truly need input, guidance, and mentorship—regarding curriculum, learning processes, and academic readiness—so that this program can operate as expected,” said the Dean of FKG UMS.
The presence of the Conservative Dentistry PPDGS at UMS is expected to expand access to specialist education for dentists in Central Java and surrounding regions, while strengthening the contribution of private universities to national health development.
Addressing Systemic Inequality
Ministry of Health data indicate that most dental specialists remain concentrated in major cities on Java. Meanwhile, many regions outside Java face limited conservative dentistry services, directly affecting public health quality.
In this context, the FKG UGM–FKG UMS collaboration reflects a paradigm shift in health higher education—from competition to collaboration, from institutional excellence alone to social responsibility.
The success of this partnership will not be measured solely by obtaining program approval, but by the extent to which graduates can meet real needs in regions where dental specialists remain scarce.
Reporter: Andri Wicaksono, Photographer: Fajar Budi Harsakti
