Sari Mutiara Indonesia University (USM-Indonesia) is a higher education institution organized by the Sari Mutiara Medan Foundation (YSMM) based on the Decree of the Ministry of Education and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia No. 10/E/O/2013 dated January 10, 2013, and the Decree of the Ministry of Education and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia No. 75/E/O/2013 dated April 10, 2013, regarding the merger of the Sari Mutiara Health Analyst Academy, Sari Mutiara Pharmacy and Food Analysis Academy, and the Mutiara Indonesia School of Health Sciences Medan. The Sari Mutiara Medan Foundation is a legal entity that began its activities in 1983 by establishing the Sari Mutiara Medan Health Nursing School (SPK). Then, in 1992, the Sari Mutiara Medan Nursing Academy (AKPER) and Sari Mutiara Medan Health Analyst Academy (AAK) were established. In 1993, the Sari Mutiara Medan Nutrition Academy (AKZI) was founded, and in 1994, the Sari Mutiara Medan Environmental Health Academy (AKL) and the Sari Mutiara Medan Pharmacy and Food Analysis Academy (AKAFARMA) were established. In 2000, YSMM organized the Mutiara Indonesia School of Health Sciences (STIKes-MI). The vision of Sari Mutiara Indonesia University is to become an excellent, character-driven, and globally competitive university by 2038.

As one of the higher education institutions, USM Indonesia has a very strategic function in improving human resources, both for local, national, and regional needs. As a university with the vision of Becoming an Excellent, Character-driven, and Globally Competitive University by 2038.

It began with the establishment of the Sitanggang Purba Foundation by Mrs. Midwife Sauria Sitanggang, assisted by her beloved husband Drs. W. Purba. This foundation began its journey in the world of education by establishing the Sitanggang Purba Health Nursing School (SPK). As time passed, the Sitanggang Health Nursing School (SPK) was renamed the Sari Mutiara Medan Health Nursing School (SPK). The long journey of the ups and downs of managing SPK Sari Mutiara became a strong foundation to motivate the midwife to take education management more seriously. The result was that in a short time, SPK Sari Mutiara Medan became a prime choice for the people of North Sumatra, as seen from the number of students, which increased significantly every year. In the management of SPK Sari Mutiara, the foundation was supported by prominent figures in education and health who sincerely and wholeheartedly helped develop SPK Sari Mutiara, including:

  1. dr. B.B. Simanihuruk
  2. dr. Widi Raharjo
  3. dr. Maria Betty Sitanggang, Sp.KK
  4. Dra. Veronika Sitanggang
  5. dr. Tuahman Fr. Purba, M.Kes

After experiencing rapid growth, SPK Sari Mutiara was affected by the policy of the Government of the Republic of Indonesia, which no longer allowed the operation of Health Nursing Schools for producing healthcare workers. Healthcare workers must be educated at a higher level, such as in an Academy (Diploma III). Therefore, the midwife proposed the establishment of higher education institutions under the Foundation, which later changed its name to the Sari Mutiara Medan Foundation (a name that is very philosophical according to the midwife’s clear thinking). With great enthusiasm and hard work, the Sari Mutiara Foundation successfully established the Sari Mutiara Nursing Academy (AKPER) and the Sari Mutiara Health Analyst Academy (AAK) in 1992. The Foundation was assisted by several education and health figures who provided their support, enabling the Nursing Academy and Health Analyst Academy to grow rapidly. Some of the key figures who even became leaders of the Sari Mutiara Nursing Academy include:

  1. dr. H. Ishak Suhaemi, SKM
  2. Lumongga Siagian, SKM
  3. Hery Valona B. Ambarita, S.Kp
  4. Evarina Sembiring, SST, M.Kes

For the Sari Mutiara Health Analyst Academy, key figures who supported and even became its leaders include:

  1. Drs. Berusaha Ginting
  2. dr. Ardjuna Burhan, DTM & H, Sp.PK
  3. dr. Deli Theo, Sp.PK

Following the success of managing AKPER and AAK Sari Mutiara, the midwife, Ms. S. Sitanggang, did not rest on her laurels. In 1993, the Sari Mutiara Foundation applied for permission to manage the Sari Mutiara Medan Nutrition Academy (AKZI), and the Minister of Health of the Republic of Indonesia quickly responded by granting permission to manage it in accordance with the prevailing regulations at that time. In managing the Nutrition Academy, the Foundation was supported by several experts in the field of nutrition who also agreed to lead the Academy, including:

  1. A.M. Marpaung, MPS
  2. Drs. B. Doloksaribu, DFSN, MCH

The Foundation has gradually and systematically continued to develop, including adding programs, Academies, and improving the quality of education, as well as providing facilities such as classrooms, laboratories, libraries, computers, and further studies for lecturers. The commitment of Ms. S. Sitanggang to making the institution an institution of service to society, the nation, and the state by producing healthy and intelligent Indonesians is the spirit behind the management of the Foundation and all its activities. With this spirit, the Foundation has continued to grow, and one of the developments made was the establishment of new Academies based on public interest in North Sumatra. In 1994, the Sari Mutiara Medan Foundation proposed the establishment of the Environmental Health Academy (AKL) and the Pharmacy & Food Analysis Academy (AKAFARMA). As a result of hard work and a spirit of progress, the establishment permits were quickly granted by the government. With the help of prominent figures in the fields of environmental health and pharmacy, who also agreed to lead the academies, including:

  1. H.S. Sirait, SKM
  2. Suhardiono, SKM, M.Kes
  3. Freddy O. Purba, SKM, M.Kes
  4. Rahmat A. Dachi, SKM, M.Kes
  5. Prof. Dr. M.T. Simanjuntak, MSc, Pharmacist

Due to the success in managing various academies, the Foundation was determined to develop them into a School of Health Sciences. This goal was not just written in the foundation’s work plan but became the foundation’s main priority. In 2000, this vision was realized when the government entrusted the Sari Mutiara Medan Foundation through the Ministry of National Education to establish the Mutiara Indonesia School of Health Sciences (STIKes) Medan. With the Mutiara Indonesia School of Health Sciences, which merged several existing Health Academies and added new programs, STIKes Mutiara Indonesia progressed and developed into a leading institution with a reputation for excellence. By 2012, the number of students reached 3,000, and the institution gained prestigious academic accomplishments. For instance, the faculty received research grants from DIKTI, and in 2012, STIKes Mutiara Indonesia was the only private institution in the health sector in Region I to receive the PHP-DIKTI grant after passing a rigorous selection process.

The Foundation’s commitment to developing the Strata 1 education level continued, and the application for the Master’s Program in Public Health was approved in 2011. The Ministry of National Education granted permission to establish the Master’s Program in Health Sciences at STIKes Mutiara Indonesia, a great achievement for a School of Health Sciences. By 2012, STIKes Mutiara Indonesia managed the following programs and levels:

 

No Study Program Level
1. Nursing S1
2. Pharmacy S1
3. Environmental Health S1
4. Nutrition S1
5. Health Analyst D3
6. Pharmacy D3
7. Public Health S2