The visit of Yogyakarta Mayor, Dr. (H.C.) Hasto Wardoyo, to the Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) this time felt special. His presence offered valuable insights to thousands of prospective graduates of the Bachelor’s and Applied Bachelor’s Programs for the First Period of the 2025/2026 Academic Year.
Not many people know the full journey of the 1989 graduate of the UGM Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing (FK-KMK UGM) from starting his career to serving two terms as Regent of Kulon Progo, leading the National Population and Family Planning Agency (BKKBN), and eventually returning to Yogyakarta as Mayor.
The title Sp.OG (K) after his name signifies that he is a specialist in obstetrics and gynecology with a subspecialty in fertility and reproductive endocrinology. Although currently serving as a public official in Yogyakarta, he continues to practice medicine to serve the community as a medical graduate.
“After graduating as a doctor in 1989 from UGM, I chose to serve in remote and rural areas instead of working in the city,” he said at Grha Sabha Pramana on Monday (Nov. 25), opening the story of his life journey.
For many people, an ideal job offers comfort and convenience. This was not the case for Hasto, who instead began his medical career serving communities along the upper Mahakam River in East Kalimantan, a location that was extremely remote at the time.
Hasto shared that he has always had a strong sense of adventure, and the spirit of service to remote communities instilled in him at UGM strengthened his resolve.
“It was not common, but that was my decision at the time. I was determined to work in a remote area, and indeed I was assigned to the upper Mahakam River, East Kalimantan,” he said.
Serving communities along the upper Mahakam River, he recalled, brought unique and challenging experiences. Every day, he had to travel by boat to reach the people he served. One particularly memorable experience was administering injections from one boat to another.
“They would extend their arm from the other boat, and I would give the injection from the boat I was on. I did this for 5 years, earning only 61,000 rupiah per month. That was in the early 1990s,” he recounted.
Dr. Wardoyo will never forget his first years working in the interior. The people-centered spirit he learned at UGM enabled him to embrace every assignment with gratitude. For him, the five years of service taught invaluable lessons. The experience broadened his understanding that health services in the field are not always as ideal as imagined.
“In remote areas, access is difficult, transportation is limited, and patient conditions are often dire. But the principle must remain the same: service must continue, without calculating rewards. I believe that if we give sincerely, God will return it in unexpected ways,” he said.
Becoming a specialist doctor remained the profession Dr. Wardoyo chose to pursue wholeheartedly. He spent nearly 20 years learning and serving in this field, and through this dedication, he realized that learning never ends throughout one’s life.
His record of service and involvement in various organizations eventually led him to serve as Regent of Kulon Progo for two terms: 2011–2016 and 2017–2019. Leading the region expanded both his experience and contributions, and during his tenure, he emphasized the importance of economic independence for local communities.
Together with residents, he helped develop local industries and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), including the production of the “AirKu” bottled water brand, batik, rice, coffee, and paving blocks.
He also advanced cooperative-based economic systems by transforming modern franchise systems into Toko Milik Rakyat (People-Owned Stores), known as Tomira.
As a leader, Dr. Wardoyo is known for his strong principles in resisting capitalist practices. He teaches that business profits should be shared and benefit many, not just a select few.
“What is the point of building a start-up that extracts money from the community without empowering them? Build businesses that lift many people out of poverty,” he urged.
At the end of his remarks to the prospective graduates, he emphasized the importance of teamwork. Working in teams, he noted, will always lead to greater results. He also reminded graduates never to stop reading.
“Even though your coursework has ended, your responsibility to keep learning has not. Continue reading and learning, as these will support you throughout your life,” he concluded.
Author: Leony
Editor: Agung Nugroho
Post-editor: Rajendra Arya
Photographer: Fristo Adi