The Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Syiah Kuala (FKG USK), held the One Health Guest Lecture 2026 entitled “One Health in Medicine: Integration of Science, Environment, and Policy” at BSI Landmark, 8th Floor, Banda Aceh. This activity was part of the initiative “Integrating One Health into Dental Education: Towards a Collaborative Curriculum in Indonesia,”initiated by FKG USK from Aceh.
The guest lecture was attended by approximately 200 participants from various academic backgrounds, including students and lecturers from the Faculty of Dentistry, Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Nursing, and Forestry. The diversity of participants’ backgrounds is in line with the spirit of One Health, which emphasizes a cross-sectoral approach in addressing health issues.
Two main speakers presented at the event, namely Dr. Nur Indah Ahmad from the Malaysia One Health University Network (MyOHUN)/Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), and Dewi Harfina, M.Si from the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN). Both speakers delivered presentations on the application of the One Health concept, ranging from issues of zoonoses and antimicrobial resistance to the relationship between environmental health and public policy.
Remarks from the Chair of the Organizing Committee: Encouraging the Establishment of Networks and Evidence-Based Policies
The Chair of the Organizing Committee, drg. Ridha Andayani, M.Si, emphasized in her remarks that current health issues can no longer be addressed by a single profession, considering that human, animal, and environmental health are interconnected as one. She highlighted the relevance of the One Health approach in dentistry, particularly regarding the appropriate use of antibiotics, the impact of fluorosis due to environmental quality, and the relationship between oral health and systemic diseases.
According to her, this activity was designed not merely as a forum for knowledge sharing, but also as a space for building a collaboration platform among students and academics from dentistry, general medicine, veterinary medicine, public health, and environmental fields. Ridha hopes that this meeting will produce concrete outcomes in the form of collaborative networks and a policy brief as a strategic recommendation for the development of health education curricula, while also supporting the synchronization of human-resource performance indicators that have an impact on policy.
Dean of FKG: Aceh as the Starting Point for the One Health Academic Movement
The Dean of FKG USK, Dr. drg. Zulfan Alibasyah, Sp.Perio, in his remarks stated that this activity has strategic significance beyond that of an ordinary guest lecture. He emphasized that health education needs to prepare for increasingly complex challenges, as the boundaries between human, animal, and environmental health are becoming increasingly interconnected.
Zulfan emphasized that oral health is an integral part of overall human health, and that various factors such as antibiotic use, dental waste, and environmental quality demonstrate the close relationship between dental education and One Health issues. He hopes that this activity will become a concrete step from merely understanding the concept toward taking action, which can be translated into curriculum development, research, community service, and collaboration among professions.
Furthermore, Zulfan expressed his hope that the initiative started in Aceh could be replicated by other institutions in Indonesia, while also encouraging BRIN and related institutions to become initiators of strategic activities that bring together academics, researchers, and policymakers in producing evidence-based recommendations. He appreciated the organizing committee and all parties who prepared the activity, and encouraged students to take advantage of the opportunity to build networks and develop cross-disciplinary thinking.
Rector of USK: USK as a Driving Force for One Health Collaboration in Aceh
The remarks of the Rector of Universitas Syiah Kuala at this event were delivered by the Vice Rector for Academic Affairs, representing the university’s strategic position in supporting the cross-disciplinary initiative. In his remarks, the Vice Rector emphasized that One Health is not merely a theme of an activity, but a paradigm that views human health as inseparable from animal health and environmental health.
Therefore, addressing health issues requires a comprehensive cross-disciplinary approach.
He stated that USK, located in a region with rich biodiversity, various environmental issues, threats of zoonotic diseases, food security concerns, and public health challenges, has a significant opportunity to serve as a driving force as well as a One Health collaboration hub, both at the national level and particularly in Aceh.
The Vice Rector also emphasized the importance of shifting the educational model from merely interdisciplinary toward collaborative learning, in which students from medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, public health, forestry, agriculture, marine sciences, engineering, and various other fields need to be trained to address problems together across professional disciplines. This is highly relevant to the broader theme of the activity, “Integrating One Health into Health Profession Education – Towards Collaborative Curriculum in Indonesia.”
He emphasized that the implementation of One Health must result in concrete actions and policies, rather than stopping at seminars or memoranda of understanding. The university expects this collaboration to lead to joint curricula, cross-disciplinary research, community service, policy briefs, innovations, and policy recommendations that truly have an impact on society.
At the end of his remarks, the Vice Rector for Academic Affairs invited all participants to make this guest lecture the starting point for a larger network, including international networks. He reminded the students that they will eventually become professionals who are expected to be able to communicate, collaborate, and create solutions together across professions for a better future of health.
Towards a One Health-Based Collaborative Curriculum
The One Health Guest Lecture 2026 is expected to become the first step in a series of efforts by FKG USK to integrate the One Health approach into dental education curricula in Indonesia. Through collaboration with MyOHUN/UPM and BRIN, this activity is also directed toward producing a policy brief and evidence-based recommendations that can be followed up to strengthen curricula, develop human resources, and implement policies at both the regional and national levels.