UGM and the University of Sydney Co-Host 10th HOMSEA Conference in Yogyakarta
Yogyakarta, June 23–27, 2025
PELAKITA.ID – Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), in collaboration with the University of Sydney, is proudly hosting the 10th International Conference on the History of Medicine in Southeast Asia (HOMSEA).
This prestigious academic event gathers scholars, researchers, and students from across the region and the world to explore the rich and complex intersections between health, medicine, and society in Southeast Asia.
Held on the historic campus of Universitas Gadjah Mada, the conference runs from June 23 to 27, 2025. It offers a dynamic platform for critical dialogue under the theme: “Health and Medicine in the Colonial, Post-Colonial, and Global Worlds.”
The chosen theme reflects a growing interest in how medical knowledge, practices, and institutions have evolved across political, historical, and cultural contexts—from colonial encounters and nationalist health agendas to the transformations brought about by globalization.
Through keynote speeches, panel discussions, and academic presentations, HOMSEA 2025 seeks to deepen historical perspectives on medicine’s role in shaping Southeast Asian societies while engaging contemporary public health issues through a historical lens.
As the 10th installment in the HOMSEA series, this conference represents not only a milestone in regional scholarship but also a significant step forward in international academic collaboration within the humanities and social sciences.
Highlights from Oral Presentations – Tuesday, June 24, 2025
One of the key sessions of the day, Pioneers and Trendsetters in Health and Medicine, took place in Room Soegondo 721. This panel featured insightful presentations on individuals who have significantly influenced the medical landscape in Indonesia and Southeast Asia.
Among them was Wilhelm August Paul Schuffner, whose pioneering work in malaria eradication in Sumatra was presented by a team from Universitas Sumatera Utara.
Sudirman Nasir, from the Hasanuddin University delivered a compelling account of Dr. Marie Thomas and Dr. Honoria Acosta-Sison, highlighting their groundbreaking contributions to women’s health in Indonesia and the Philippines.
“Marie Thomas and Honoria were the first female doctors in their respective countries. Their contributions were immense, yet they tend to be forgotten,” said Sudirman to Pelakita.ID on Thursday, 24 June 2025.
Makassar on the map of transnational relations in the development and exchange of medicines in past centuries. (image by Sudirman Nasir)
The session also paid tribute to Prof. M. Sardjito, MD, MPH—an influential figure in Indonesia’s public health history—introduced by Rudi Pekerti and Rushdy Hoesein of the Indonesian Association of the History of Medicine (PERSEKIN). Another tribute, delivered by Pekerti, honored Prof. Dr. Sjamsuhidajat, regarded as the founder of Indonesia’s Department and Collegium of Digestive Surgery.
Syariah Aini of Universitas Gadjah Mada presented on Julianti Saroso, a key advocate for community-based health initiatives in Indonesia between 1950 and 1980, emphasizing her forward-thinking approach to public health.
Simultaneously, a parallel panel on Palliative Care was held in Room Soegondo 709. Elisabeth Kramer offered a timely and compassionate exploration titled “Palliative Care and Pain Management: Health Practitioner and Community Perspectives from Denpasar, Bali.”
Her presentation underscored the growing importance of palliative care in Indonesia and the need to incorporate cultural values into end-of-life care.
A Platform for Regional Health History
HOMSEA 2025 continues to serve as a vital academic forum for cross-border collaboration and reflection on the historical development of medicine in Southeast Asia.
The sessions highlight the roles of local pioneers, institutional evolution, and long-standing public health narratives that continue to influence today’s healthcare systems.
As the conference proceeds, more panels will address essential topics—from traditional healing systems and colonial interventions to post-independence reforms and current global health challenges—solidifying HOMSEA’s place as a major milestone in the study of medical history in the region.
