BANGKOK, THAILAND – Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) once again demonstrated its excellence on the international stage through its participation in the Siriraj International Medical Microbiology, Parasitology, and Immunology Competition (SIMPIC). Now in its 15th year, this prestigious medical competition was held at Siriraj Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand, and brought together 59 teams from 43 universities across 8 countries.
SIMPIC is an annual event that gathers medical students and professionals from around the world to test their knowledge and skills in microbiology, parasitology, and immunology. Beyond the academic competition, the event also serves as a platform for cultural exchange and global networking among future medical professionals.
In this year’s competition, USU sent three representative teams composed of outstanding students:
Team USU01
Nicholash Marcolius Sutanto
Tiffany Frolence
Enrico Franditho Sihombing
Ruth Maria Situmorang
Team USU02
King Muliawan Makmur
Muhammad Shadiq
Vincentius Haholongan Tito Sihaloho
Kelly Cristo Iskandar
Team USU03
Yuni Harun Marsella
Nathan Ryan Putra Sitompul
Bintang Aly Zacky
Bill Colson Wijaya
The competition spanned three intensive days. The first day began with registration and a cultural introduction to Thailand, including a dinner cruise for all delegates.
On the second day, all teams competed in the qualifying round, which consisted of both individual and team-based examinations. Out of 59 participating teams, only the top 20 advanced to the semifinals. All three USU teams successfully qualified, proving their academic excellence by securing positions in the Top 20.
Entering the third day in the semifinal round, the competition became increasingly competitive. Teams USU01 and USU03 initially dominated the scoreboard during the early sessions. Although fierce competition in the final moments prevented them from advancing to the finals, the final results remained remarkable:
- Teams USU01 and USU03 secured positions in the Top 15 Worldwide
- Team USU02 successfully maintained a position in the Top 20 Worldwide
Beyond team achievements, the individual excellence of USU students was also recognized at the international level. Based on cumulative individual scores, the USU delegation earned:
- 6 Silver Medals
- 2 Bronze Medals
These medals are exclusive awards given only to participants with outstanding performance in individual examinations. This achievement not only brings pride to Universitas Sumatera Utara but also highlights the quality and competitiveness of Indonesian medical education on the global stage.