SEMARANG — Two students from the Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Diponegoro (FK Undip), Gregorius Raymond Geraldo and Bre Atmaja Ariyamaitri, achieved remarkable results at the Indonesian Medical Physiology Olympiad (IMPhO) 2025, held at Universitas Airlangga on 26–28 September 2025.
Gregorius secured 2nd Best Individual, while Bre earned 8th Best Individual, marking a proud milestone for FK Undip.
Their achievements felt even more meaningful as both had previously returned without a title from an international physiology competition in Thailand. Instead of viewing the experience as a setback, it became motivation for them to rise stronger and perform better at the national level.
Gregorius and Bre were selected as delegates after undergoing internal screening by the Physiology (FAAL) team. They later entered an intensive preparation program under the guidance of dr. Ridzky Firmansyah Hardian, Ph.D.
According to dr. Ridzky, the delegates trained for approximately six months, alongside their preparation for the IMSPQ competition in Thailand. Their training included material discussions, written test simulations, and fast-response quiz drills.
He expressed pride in the students’ resilience and achievement, stating, “Walaupun belum cukup beruntung untuk mendapatkan gelar juara, saya bangga dengan delegasi dari Undip yang berhasil mendapatkan penghargaan di kategori best individual score.” He added that he hopes Undip will achieve even greater accomplishments in future physiology competitions.
Bre shared that the disappointment from the Thailand competition became a turning point that pushed them to take on the challenge of IMPhO. He noted that returning without a win made them eager to prove themselves.
Meanwhile, Gregorius highlighted that the toughest challenge during the competition was not the difficulty of the questions, but overcoming personal barriers. He emphasized that in competitions where all participants are academically strong, the deciding factor often lies in mindset and resilience.
“Tantangan terbesarnya ya mengalahkan diri sendiri, seperti membangun mentalnya. Karena setiap kompetisi tuh pesertanya semua pintar. Tapi yang menang yang punya mental juara,” he explained.
Their achievement was also strengthened by the strong support of FK Undip’s Physiology lecturers. Gregorius mentioned that the lecturers were highly attentive, consistently supervising their training schedules and ensuring thorough preparation.
Bre added that the physiology concepts taught during lectures significantly helped them answer the competition questions more confidently, crediting the clarity of teaching from FK Undip lecturers.
For Bre, this accomplishment marks an important stepping stone toward future goals. He hopes to aim higher in upcoming competitions.
“Prestasi ini sebagai batu lompatan supaya bisa lebih baik pada kompetisi lainnya. Ke depannya, Amin, juara satu,” he said enthusiastically.
Gregorius reflected that one of the most memorable moments was meeting participants from various regions, allowing him to build new connections and expand his academic experience.
Both students encouraged fellow FK Undip students to take part in academic competitions. Gregorius emphasized the importance of trying without fear of failure, saying, “Dicoba aja dulu, menang kalah itu urusan belakangan, yang penting pengalamannya.”
Bre also advised students to participate in competitions aligned with their interests, stating, “Coba dulu aja, tapi sebelumnya cari kompetisi yang disukai dulu. Karena kalau kuliah cuma kuliah doang itu rugi.”
Their achievements reaffirm FK Undip’s commitment to nurturing academically excellent and competitive students capable of excelling at both national and international levels. The Faculty of Medicine continues to support students in exploring various scientific arenas as part of efforts to strengthen educational quality and global competitiveness.(Public Relations – FK Undip / Sara)
