Yogyakarta, July 23, 2025 – The Faculty of Pharmacy at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) once again demonstrates that its graduates can make their mark on the world stage in various strategic fields. One clear example comes from apt. Gde Yulian Yogadhita, M.Epid., a pharmacist and epidemiologist from the Faculty of Pharmacy’s class of 2000, who has built a career as a health policy consultant specializing in disaster mitigation and has served for over a decade at the World Health Organization (WHO).
Gde Yulian’s career journey began at a crucial moment: the Yogyakarta earthquake in May 2006. Having just been sworn in as a pharmacist in February 2006, he was called to volunteer for the Indonesian Pharmacists Association (ISFI). This experience opened his path to the WHO, where he initially served as a consultant for the emergency supply system, managing medical logistics and disaster relief medicines. According to him, the foundational knowledge he gained at the UGM Faculty of Pharmacy, from pharmaceutical biology to drug supply chain management, made him a key reference within his team.
“At WHO, I was like a ‘walking Google’ because the knowledge from UGM Pharmacy was so comprehensive. I didn’t just understand the products, but the entire process from upstream to downstream,” said Gde. “However, technical knowledge alone is not enough. The stress from dense lab schedules and reports actually pushed me to become active in student organizations like the Student Executive Board (BEM) and the Senate. That’s where my soft skills, especially management and communication, were honed. It turned out to be the most important investment in my career.”
Gde’s story is a unique inspiration as he proves that Grade Point Average (GPA) is not the sole determinant of success. He shared that despite graduating with a GPA that was not among the highest in his class, a combination of technical expertise, soft skills, and proficiency in English led him to become one of the alumni who successfully joined a world-class health organization like WHO. He advises current students not to fear technology, but to leverage it for knowledge management. “You don’t need to know everything, but you must know where to find validated information. Utilize the UGM Pharmacy alumni network, which is very strong,” he added.
The contributions of alumni like Gde Yulian are in line with the commitment of the UGM Faculty of Pharmacy to support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). His work in disaster management directly supports SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) by ensuring resilient health systems and access to safe medicines during crises. His story also reflects the essence of SDG 4 (Quality Education), as the UGM Faculty of Pharmacy is proven to produce graduates who not only excel academically but also possess the emotional intelligence and soft skills to become leaders. Furthermore, his role in bridging various institutions, from government to international organizations, is a manifestation of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), which emphasizes the importance of collaboration to build a better world.
