Nurul Hikmah (25) was one of the 991 graduates at the UGM Graduation Ceremony on Wednesday, Jul. 24, 2024. The master’s graduate from the Clinical Pharmacy Master’s Program at the UGM Faculty of Pharmacy achieved the highest GPA of 4.00 with the title of Master of Clinical Pharmacy.
In an interview with the media at UGM, Hikmah shared her strategies for graduating with a perfect GPA at the postgraduate level.
Being the top GPA achiever not only brought her joy but also raised concerns about whether her knowledge could be applied to the development of the pharmaceutical world.
“I’m nervous because the Master of Clinical Pharmacy degree and the highest GPA make me worried about whether my knowledge can benefit others and whether I can contribute to the advancement of clinical pharmacy in Indonesia,” said Hikmah on Wednesday, Jul. 31, 2024.
Hikmah also shared the tips and tricks she used during her studies.
According to her, having the proper study methods and understanding the different teaching styles of professors are crucial.
These strategies help in focusing on the competencies one wants to achieve.
“Don’t focus on other people’s achievements. Focus on what you are doing right now,” she advised.
Additionally, Hikmah was diligent in reading references, managing her time effectively, and forming study groups with fellow students already working.
During her studies, Hikmah was actively involved in dissertation research and practical assistant roles.
Although her work as a practical assistant sometimes overwhelmed her, it didn’t hinder her motivation to complete her studies on time.
“Those challenges helped me learn to manage my time effectively,” she said.
Her dedication to the field of clinical pharmacy and her various experiences have yielded commendable results.
For her thesis research, Hikmah conducted a study titled “Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Empirical Antibiotic Levofloxacin Compared to the Combination of Ceftriaxone/Azithromycin in Patients with Community-Acquired Pneumonia at RSA UGM.”
The research was motivated by the high mortality rate among pneumonia patients.
“As known, pneumonia is even the leading cause of death in children under five years old,” she explained.
The study compared the use of ceftriaxone/azithromycin and levofloxacin antibiotics, both of which are used to treat pneumonia.
The combination of ceftriaxone and azithromycin led to a longer duration of antibiotic use, life-threatening side effects such as prolonged QT interval, and additional costs of Rp. 1,114,926.54 to achieve a one-percent improvement in recovery compared to a single levofloxacin.
“The research results show no significant clinical outcome difference between the two,” said Hikmah.
According to her, the additional costs and the lack of significant differences in healing outcomes present an opportunity to improve treatment efficiency for pneumonia patients.
She hopes this can reduce the financial burden on hospitals and patients, thereby increasing the probability of recovery.
When asked about her future career plans after completing her master’s degree, the Banjarmasin-born woman, born Nov. 23, 1998, expressed her desire to become a lecturer in clinical pharmacy.
Her passion for the field leads her to frequently engage in activities outside the classroom to deepen her pharmacy knowledge.
Author: Tasya
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Lintang