Nabila Syahra, a student at the Faculty of Dentistry (FKG) of the Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU), has achieved a brilliant national-level accomplishment. She won 3rd Place in the Public Poster Competition at the World Oral Health Day (WOHD) 2026 event, organized by Lambung Mangkurat University in Banjarmasin in early May.
Through her visual work, Nabila raised the crucial issue of the connection between oral cavity health and systemic body health. Specifically, she highlighted the close link between gum disease and the risk of heart disease, a medical fact that is often overlooked by the general public.
According to Nabila, many people still view dental and oral health issues partially, only focusing on cavities or bleeding gums. In fact, infections in the oral cavity have the potential to spread and affect the health of other vital organs. Through this poster medium, she aimed to present scientific education in a simple and easy-to-digest visual format.
The process of designing this poster was based on in-depth research of various scientific journals to ensure data accuracy. Nabila faced tough challenges, including time management amidst her busy dentistry class schedule, as well as creative burnout while designing the visual layout. However, by evaluating references and taking short breaks, she managed to overcome these obstacles.
Nabila's interest in the world of scientific competitions had actually been nurtured since high school, which later developed into an interest in poster design after taking a Scientific Writing course. She hopes this achievement will motivate other students to not be afraid to try new things and to seize every opportunity for self-development.
