Universitas Gadjah Mada is in mourning. One of its best professors, Prof. dr. Purnomo Suryantoro, DTMH., Sp.AK., Ph.D., DSc. (Hon)., FRCP(AM) passed away on Tuesday (26/1). The professor at Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing UGM departed this life at 03.30 at Dr. Sardjito General Hospital, Yogyakarta, and was buried at the Sawitsari cemetery after previously receiving the final tribute ceremony from the UGM family at the UGM Hall in the afternoon.
The deceased was born in Pati, Central Java, 79 years ago. He was a pediatrician who graduated from UGM and completed his master’s degree at Mahidol University, Thailand (1976) and doctoral program at Kobe University, Japan (1996).
During his time as teaching staff, the deceased had made massive contributions to medical science, especially Pediatrics. He always devoted his energy, thoughts, and time to advancing the institution amid his persistence in developing the knowledge.
Being busy serving many patients with his high enthusiasm about the treatment given, Prof. Purnomo Suryantoro still agreed to lead and manage the Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing UGM as Dean in 1997-2000.
“During Prof. Purnomo’s reign, he encouraged problem-based learning to increase student activity in class discussions and improve their analytical skills,” said Prof. Drs. Koentjoro, MBSc., Ph.D., Chair of the UGM Board of Professors when conducting the final tribute, Tuesday afternoon (26/1).
According to Koentjoro, the problem-based learning program enabled students to practice firsthand with humans as their patients. Previously, they only used experimental animals due to insufficient knowledge mastery.
In his inauguration as Professor of FKKMK UGM on 10 February 2001, Prof. Purnomo conveyed that medical technology had advanced, but medical problem identification still needed to start from the clinical level. In providing state-of-the-art health services for the people to welcome the globalization era, clinical problems had to undergo screening.
“With a speech entitled From Clinical to Molecular, Nanotechnology, and Xenotransplantation Level Screening, he said that screening required knowledge both in the clinical field itself and in high technology,” said Koentjoro.
In his inaugural speech, the deceased also mentioned that several future health services would include alternative medicine, xenotransplantation, nanotechnology, molecular level medicine, and could repair the neural transmission. As a pediatric specialist, he advised fellow pediatricians to prepare themselves in deepening the knowledge of pediatric diseases, not only at the clinical level but also at the molecular, to optimize the ability to provide health services.
“Congenital disorders are neither destiny nor punishment from God. It is a test for all of us mentally, physically, and knowledgeably and is a command for humans to improve their knowledge,” he said.
Koentjoro perceived the late Prof. Purnomo to be a lecturer, doctor, and leader who always paid great attention to his environment. The deceased was quick to respond to existing problems and helped find solutions to problems.
Thus, all of his colleagues and students have missions to continue his work, carry out his messages, and develop the knowledge he inherited to advance the university and Indonesia.
“Let us pray to God, may He provide forgiveness for the sins of the deceased, multiply the reward for his good deeds, grant him the noblest place up there, and may God give his family the fortitude and strength to bear this loss,” he added.
Author: Agung Nugroho
Photo: Firsto