Student Spotlight: Alif Indiralarasati, MD
A Defining Moment
What started as an ordinary morning in 2006 became a defining moment for Alif Indiralarasati. A 6.2-magnitude earthquake had struck her hometown in Indonesia.
Having been born and raised in the disaster-prone country, Indiralarasati was aware of the potential for natural hazards. In coastal areas like Indonesia, large earthquakes can sometimes be followed by tsunamis.
Her family knew they had to get to higher ground. They rushed north, but when they reached the city center, panicked crowds had them trapped amid the destruction. Surrounded by injured people, abandoned children and collapsed buildings, Indiralarasati watched as medical personnel rushed in to provide treatment.
“In that moment, I felt like maybe I want to be someone that looks like them in the future—helping people when everyone is panicking,” Indiralarasati said.
She had never considered going into health care before, instead dreaming of becoming an astronaut or an explorer. After that day, though, she decided to pursue her medical doctorate at Universitas Gadjah Mada.
From Medicine to Disaster Management
Alongside her medical studies, Indiralarasati worked with the Medical Emergency Rescue Committee (MER-C) to support Indonesia’s pre-hospital system during the COVID-19 pandemic. Working closely in health care during the outbreak, she saw firsthand the gaps in health care preparedness in Indonesia.
“I wanted to better the health system in Indonesia, especially for the health care preparedness system,” said Indiralarasati.
She began to research Indonesia’s health system but wanted to go deeper. Working with the Disaster Health Management Division at the Center for Health Policy and Management, she discovered that Indonesia borrows much of its disaster management practices from the United States. Pursuing a degree in the U.S. felt like a natural next step.
“I wanted to learn from the source itself,” said Indiralarasati.
She went on to apply for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program to fund her studies. Awarded the scholarship in fall 2025, Indiralarasati chose to attend the University of Georgia’s College of Public Health to earn her Master of Public Health with a concentration in disaster management.
“The faculty and staff are very impressive and have a very broad range of experiences,” she said. “The curriculum itself really fit my needs compared to other programs.”
Learning, Leading and Giving Back
Now in her second semester, Indiralarasati is a dedicated student driven to engage with her community, both on and off campus. She is a member of the UGA Muslim Student Association and the Medical Reserve Corps.
She also volunteers with the Athens-Clarke County government and recently participated in establishing a warming station for unhoused residents.
“When I engage with the community, I share my values and I can gain the experience of building relationships and getting in touch with how people live in the US,” she said.
A physician by training, Indiralarasati is a self-proclaimed lifelong learner, a mindset she brings to her studies in disaster management.
“When I approach disaster management in preparedness, response and recovery, I try to look at those pieces differently,” she said. “One disaster will never be the same as the previous one. Even though we can learn from the previous experience, there will always be something different.”
After her anticipated graduation in spring 2027, Indiralarasati looks forward to taking her acquired knowledge back to Indonesia and using it to strengthen her home country’s disaster preparedness systems. Above all, she hopes to inspire the next generation of students and disaster managers by encouraging them not to be afraid to ask questions.
“Never stop learning—not just in school but in the people, in the environment, in the community, or outside your comfort zone.”
Written by Erin Mumper
