ITS Campus, ITS News — The Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology (ITS) has once again demonstrated its impressive performance through one of its students. This time, the impressive achievement was achieved by Jefta Kenna Shalom Tarigan, a student of the ITS Medical Technology Study Program (Prodi) who won first place in the Original Research category at the 43rd Fiesta Urology 2026 Scientific Competition, held last Saturday (11/7), at the JW Marriott Hotel Surabaya.
The first-year student at the Faculty of Medicine and Health (FKK) ITS made history as the only non-medical student to win this urology competition, competing against dozens of other participants, mostly doctors.
Based on a multidisciplinary scientific foundation, Jefta is conducting research on a Computer-Aided Diagnosis (CAD) System that utilizes a dual deep learning algorithm (nnU-Net). “My algorithm is primarily intended to automate prostate cancer assessment based on Multiparametric Magnetic Resonance Imaging (mpMRI) images,” he explained.
This system refers to the global standard of radiology, namely the Prostate Imaging-Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS), which divides the risk level of prostate cancer into a scale of 1 to 5. Although this system has become the main reference for clinicians, conventional reading of mpMRI images still has subjectivity constraints or a high level of variability between examiners ( intra/inter-reader variability ).
To address this issue, Jefta’s CAD not only provides objective, automated classification but also presents tumor probability maps to clearly visualize intraprostatic lesions. This is expected to help clinicians minimize diagnostic errors and guide prostate biopsies more precisely.
Jefta revealed that the novelty of his multidisciplinary approach was a major draw for the panelists. While the majority of participants from purely medical backgrounds presented studies in the form of systematic reviews or case reports, Jefta confidently presented a solution-oriented technology engineering methodology. “So, the implementation of multidisciplinary science, which is still relatively new, offers a fresh perspective,” he explained.
Jefta not only developed the technical side of medicine, but was also required to translate technical language into language easily understood by medical professionals. This challenge became a valuable experience that shaped his thinking when communicating the benefits of technology to healthcare.
Jefta acknowledged that his medical imaging training in college was a crucial foundation for developing his research. However, he recognized that implementing technology in the healthcare sector requires strong medical validation. Therefore, the entire research development and presentation process was conducted in collaboration with the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine (FKK) ITS, Dr. Lukman Hakim, MKes, SpU(K), PhD, and the Head of the Medical Technology Study Program, Dr. Shoffi Izza Sabilla, SKom.
In line with this, the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Family Planning (FKK) at ITS emphasized that this achievement is not merely an individual triumph, but rather a confirmation of identity. The success of this research also serves as concrete evidence of the successful implementation of the multidisciplinary curriculum in ITS Medical Technology. Thus, although graduates will receive a Bachelor of Engineering degree, they will still possess knowledge of basic medical science.
The urology specialist explained that the curriculum in the ITS Medical Technology Study Program is purposefully designed to be comprehensive. Students are equipped with 30% of the foundations of medical science, making it easier to understand clinical concepts.
Furthermore, he continued, the curriculum is designed to enable students to independently validate data and collaborate directly with healthcare practitioners in the field. “These fundamentals are one of the strengths of the Medical Technology curriculum at ITS,” Lukman explained.
Through this evidence, the ITS Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FKK ITS) further solidifies its commitment to expanding applied research collaborations with the national hospital network to advance Indonesia’s healthcare technology independence. The success of this research is a strong signal that the fusion of science and technology is key, as “medical technology cannot develop unless it is packaged within a multidisciplinary concept,” he emphasized.
Jefta’s achievement represents a concrete step in supporting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG point 3 on Healthy and Prosperous Lives. Furthermore, this multidisciplinary innovation not only improves the accuracy of objective medical diagnostics but also plays a crucial role in achieving SDG point 9 on Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure. (ITS Public Relations)
Reporter: Syifa Rahmadina
Translator: Devinka Mutianeira