01 December 2025
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The McMaster University delegation visited USU as part of a series of activities under the Seminar and Workshop on Preventive Oncology in Family Medicine, organized by the Family Medicine and Primary Care Study Program, Faculty of Medicine, USU. The delegation was led by dr. Isti Ilmiati Fujiati, MSc.CM-FM., M.Pd.Ked., Sp.KKLP., Subsp.COPC, who facilitated the visit and audience with the university leadership. Representatives from McMaster University included Lita Cameron, MD, MSc. (Global Health Lead, Department of Family Medicine, McMaster University), Erin Gallagher (Family and Palliative Care Physician, Department of Family Medicine, McMaster University), Ryan Coelho (Assistant Clinical Professor, Family Medicine), and Mark Levitan (Adjunct Assistant Clinical Professor, Family Medicine).
During the meeting, Prof. Poppy expressed her appreciation for the visit and emphasized USU’s strong commitment to advancing this collaboration. She highlighted that partnerships with leading global research universities such as McMaster University play a crucial role in enhancing academic quality and strengthening family medicine education in Indonesia.
“We highly appreciate the presence of the McMaster University delegation at USU. This collaboration is essential for developing family physician competencies, particularly in preventive oncology and clinical education. USU is committed to ensuring that this MoU is implemented through concrete and sustainable programs,” she stated.
The McMaster University delegation conveyed that their visit also aimed to explore immediate collaborative opportunities, including the development of preventive oncology modules, academic exchange programs, and clinical educator training initiatives.
On the same occasion, dr. Isti elaborated on the continuity of the seminar and workshop held on December 1–2, 2025, as part of the initial implementation of the MoU. She explained that the activities were designed to strengthen primary care physicians through educational approaches, early cancer detection, and enhanced clinical teaching practices.
“Today’s activities demonstrate how international collaboration can be directly integrated into family medicine education. This marks a strong starting point for a long-term partnership between USU and McMaster University,” she noted.
The meeting proceeded in a collegial atmosphere, featuring in-depth discussions on technical steps required from both institutions. Key agenda items included the formulation of a collaborative work plan, identification of relevant faculties and units, and the potential implementation of joint training programs and academic exchanges. The McMaster University delegation responded positively to USU’s readiness to support various forms of collaboration.
In addition to reviewing the programs conducted on the first day, both parties also discussed the continuation of the workshop on the second day, with a particular focus on clinical teaching for clinical educators. This collaboration is expected to enhance teaching competencies and produce family physicians who are better prepared to address primary care challenges, including cancer prevention and early detection.
The meeting concluded with a shared expectation that the MoU between USU and McMaster University would be promptly translated into impactful academic and research activities. This partnership is anticipated to strengthen institutional capacity while delivering tangible benefits to society through improved primary healthcare services and chronic disease prevention.
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