The 22-hour journey from Tobelo, North Maluku, did not dampen the spirit of drg. Stephani Dwiliyani to take part in the selection process for the Specialist Dental Education Program (PPDGS) at the Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FKG UGM), on Friday (16/5).
As a dentist serving at the Soasio Community Health Center (Puskesmas) in Tidore Kepulauan City, Stephani faces various challenges in providing dental healthcare. “In my workplace, there are no dental specialists. Patients requiring advanced treatment must be referred to hospitals, which are located quite far away,” she explained.
Healthcare facilities in her region are also not yet fully adequate. She often receives referrals from other nearby community health centers. When dental equipment is damaged, the repair process can take days as technicians must be brought in from outside the city. “Things like this motivate me to further develop my capacity as a dentist,” she said.
With this determination, Stephani chose to continue her studies in the prosthodontics specialty, a field focusing on rehabilitation and dental prosthesis care. She hopes to provide more comprehensive services for her community in the future.
“If accepted at FKG UGM, I will fully dedicate myself to the program. After graduation, I will definitely return to Soasio,” she emphasized. She also noted that the community there still has limited understanding of oral health, with many choosing to go to traditional denture makers instead, believing the service to be the same as that of dentists.
For Stephani, UGM is her top choice. “The tuition fees are more affordable, and even though I am financing my education independently, I want to return and serve Tobelo,” she said. Beyond her role as a dentist, she is also a mother. “As a woman, I must continue developing myself, while also sharing my role as a mother,” she added.
The second batch of PPDGS FKG UGM selection was attended by 93 applicants, 74 of whom were women. According to Dyana Rakhmasari Kusumaningsih, S.E., M.Ec. Dev., Head of Academic Affairs at FKG UGM, the selection process includes a Computer-Based Test (CBT), MMPI test, interview, and practical exam in each study program.
Currently, FKG UGM offers seven specialist education programs. In this second batch of admissions, only the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery program did not open new student intake. Among all programs, conservative dentistry was the most popular, with 38 applicants.
The PPDGS FKG UGM selection process is held twice a year, in January and March. FKG UGM remains committed to producing dental specialists ready to serve across Indonesia, including in remote areas such as Tobelo.
Author and Photographer: Fajar Budi Harsakti
