On October 30, 2025, the Faculty of Medicine at President University, Cikarang, Bekasi, Indonesia, conducted an Early Exposure (EE) program with the theme “Healthcare Services for Children, Parents, and Teachers of Special Need Children.” Held from 08.00 to 12.00, this activity is part of a community-based learning program designed to provide medical students with early experiences in understanding real-world healthcare services. Through this program, students were encouraged not only to learn the medical aspects but also to understand the psychosocial dimensions of children with special needs (CWSN), along with their families and the educators who support them. The EE program was designed to enable students to interact directly with patients, parents, and teachers of children with specia; needs, allowing them to develop early skills in communication, empathy, and professionalism. Guided by lecturers and specialist doctors, the activity served as acontextual learning platform that integrates basic medical sciences with real-world practice, while also introducing the importance of a holistic approach in prediactic healthcare.
This year’s EE activities featured various engaging and educational agendas. The event began with a seminar titled “Overcoming Parental Burnout Through the Mindfulness Method,” delivered by Dr. Gabriella Tantular, SpKJ, M.Biomed. The seminar highlighted the importance of mental health for parents caring for children with special needs, as their complex roles often lead to chronic stress and emotional exhaustion. Through mindfulness techniques, participants were encouraged to recognize, accept, and manage their emotions more wisely.
After the seminar session, medical students conducted in-depth interviews with the parents of patients to understand the children’s social, emotional, and developmental needs more comprehensively. This was followed by physical examinations of the children, carried out by the students under the direct supervision of specialist doctors who also served as clinical instructors. With close supervision and an empathetic approach, students learned to assess children’s health not only from a medical standpoint but also by considering their psychological well-being and the supportiveness of their environment.
The Early Exposure program was chaired by Dr. Theresia Santi, SpA, who emphasized the importance of collaboration between academia and the community in supporting the growth and development of children with special needs. According to her, such activities provide dual benefits: for students, as an early experience that shapes social sensitivity and basic clinical skills; and for the community, as a tangible contribution in the form of education and healthcare services. Through direct interaction among students, parents, and teachers, it is hoped that a deeper understanding of the importance of multidisciplinary support for children with special needs can be cultivated.
In addition, this activity served as a platform for knowledge-sharing, particularly in providing education to parents and teachers regarding how to understand and meet the unique needs of each child. The Faculty of Medicine at President University hopes that the Early Exposure program not only strengthens the academic competencies of its students but also nurtures humanity and empathy as essential values for future doctors. Thus, the 2025 Early Exposure program stands as a concrete step in building a more inclusive, caring, and empowered society for children with special needs.