MEDTECH STUDENTS ADVANCE DISASTER HEALTH EDUCATION IN INDONESIA SUMMER PROGRAM
September 5, 2025
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Thirty BS in Medical Technology (BSMT) students from St. Paul University Philippines (SPUP) took part in the International Summer Course 2025 hosted by Universitas Diponegoro in Semarang, Indonesia, from August 11 to September 4, 2025. With the theme “Disaster Behavioral Health in Preventing Disaster-Related Social Issues,” the program convened allied health students and mentors from six countries, providing an avenue for academic enrichment, cultural immersion, and collaboration on disaster-related challenges.
The course combined online learning modules with onsite activities such as expert lectures, demonstrations, and interactive case discussions on disaster preparedness and management. SPUP medical technology clinical instructors—Ma. Josephine O. Gerardo, RMT, Celeen Lyka Grace R. Papa, RMT, and Chedelaine M. Aragon, RMT—delivered a lecture highlighting the role of medical technologists in post-disaster settings. Their session underscored the importance of laboratory science in outbreak detection, disease surveillance, and sustaining healthcare services during emergencies.
To extend learning beyond the classroom, students engaged in a community immersion in Magelang, where they interacted with local residents and observed community resilience in post-disaster contexts. They also undertook a study visit to Mount Merapi, which featured stops at the Bunker, Museum Sisa Hartaku, and Batu Alien. These activities provided valuable insights into disaster-prone environments and strengthened the participants’ appreciation of international approaches to disaster risk reduction and management.
The summer course concluded with cultural exchanges, where SPUP Medical Technology students showcased the richness of Filipino traditions through a vibrant performance that received warm recognition from their international peers. More than an academic experience, the program allowed participants to embody SPUP’s Paulinian values of Christ-centeredness, excellence, and service, affirming their formation as globally competent and socially responsible medical technologists prepared to contribute to health care and disaster resilience in both local and international settings.
