Ratna Sitompul

Ratna was born on 6 February 1961 in Jakarta. She completed her medical education at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia, graduating as a medical doctor in 1990. She then pursued ophthalmology specialization at the same institution, finishing in 1994, and earned her doctoral degree from the University of Indonesia in 2005.^[1][2]

Early in her career, Sitompul worked as a general practitioner at RSU Kuala Kapuas, Central Kalimantan, from 1987 to 1989. Afterward, she joined the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Indonesia, serving as a lecturer and as a member of the medical staff, particularly in the field of ophthalmology with a focus on infections and immunology. Between 1999 and 2005, she led the division of infection and immunology within the Department of Ophthalmology. From 2005 to 2008, she was the head of the ophthalmology specialization major in the University of Indonesia.^[1][2]

In April 2008, Sitompul became a candidate for the faculty of medicine dean. She ran against six more senior candidates from the faculty, including the incumbent dean professor Menaldi Rasmin. The first selection process, involving eight candidates, was conducted on 8 April 2008,^[3] and shrunk to three candidates in the final selection process on 21 April. Sitompul was named as the new dean on 21 April, coinciding with the Kartini Day. She became the first woman to serve in the position. According to rector Gumilar Rusliwa Somantri, the final selection process was the longest he had to face and jokingly stated that he wanted a dean with no mustache.^[4] Sitompul assumed office as dean three days later.^[5] Due to her status as a civil servant in the health ministry, Ratna was reassigned to the university as an adjunct lecturer.^[6]