As a part of commemorating the 78th Anniversary of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FVM UGM), on Friday (20/09) the 2024 Open Senate Meeting was held at the Auditorium. The Open Senate Meeting was begun by the chairman of the Senate, Prof. Dr. drh. SIti Isrina Oktavia Salasia, M.P., accompanied by the Secretary of the Senate, Prof. Dr. drh. Sarmin, M.P., the Dean, and a number of Professors at FVM UGM, totaling 12 lecturers. In addition, the event was also attended by invited guests consisting of university administrators, faculty and study program managers, alumni, partner representatives, lecturers, education staff and students. (SDG 17 Partnership for the Goals)
After that, the next agenda was the submission of the 2024 Dean’s Report by Prof. drh. Teguh Budipitojo, M.P., Ph.D as Dean of FVM UGM. The theme raised by the 78th Anniversary of FVM UGM was “Transformation of the Veterinary Profession in Facing the Digital Era and the Development of Artificial Intelligence”.
Then the event continued with a Scientific Oration delivered by the Head of the Department of Surgery and Radiology, Dr. drh. Dhirgo Aji, M.P. with the title “Osteoarthritis in Dogs: Problems, Therapy, and Economic Impact on the Dog Owner Community in Indonesia”. Osteoarthritis (OA) is a musculoskeletal disorder that is often found in pets, especially dogs. Currently, osteoarthritis in dogs is the most common case of articular disease in Indonesia and other countries in Asia, Europe and even America. The impact of disrupting the welfare of animals suffering from OA is very clearly visible in symptoms of pain that are so severe that the animal walks lamely or is even unable to stand. (SDG 15 Life on Land)
In his speech, Dr. Dhirgo Aji explained the types of medicines used as therapy for dogs suffering from OA, as well as surgery that must be carried out if the condition gets worse. The type of medication used is Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory and surgical procedures include Total Hip Replacement and Total Knee Replacement. It is also important to note that these medical and surgical procedures require quite a bit of money. (SDG 4 Quality Education)
He also reminded owners of the importance of pet welfare. Pet owners must be physically, mentally and economically prepared to treat pets exposed to disease, especially OA, because this is a form of ensuring that animal welfare is met properly. (SDG 15 Life on Land, SDG 4 Quality Education)
Moreover, FVM UGM also gave incentives to outstanding students and their supervisors as a form of appreciation for their achievements such as academic and non-academic competitions. The 2024 Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Senate Open Meeting ended with the cutting of tumpeng (Indonesian traditional dish) as a celebration of the 78th anniversary of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universitas Gadjah Mada. (SDG 1 No Poverty, SDG 2 No Hunger)
