Herbal Medicine Expert Andi Suhendi Passed Away

The extended family of Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta (UMS) mourns the passing of the Head of the Undergraduate Pharmacy Program, Dr. apt. Andi Suhendi, S.Farm., M.Sc., who also served as Head of the UMS Center for Pharmaceutical Natural Materials Studies (SEFA), on Saturday (8/8/2026). The late Andi's passing has left deep sorrow among the academic community, colleagues, and partners who knew him as a dedicated academic and a warm-hearted person.

Throughout his life, Andi devoted himself not only as an educator, but also as a researcher and a driving force in the development of pharmaceutical science. The many responsibilities entrusted to him stand as proof of the great confidence others placed in him.

The Dean of the UMS Faculty of Pharmacy, Prof. Erindyah Retno Wikantyasning, M.Si., S.Si., Ph.D., remembered the late Andi as someone kind, trustworthy, and always present for those around him.

"Pak Andi was known as a very kind person, trustworthy, generous, and friendly. He was always ready to help and maintained good relationships with lecturers, staffs, students, and colleagues outside UMS as well, whether from industry partners or other higher education institutions," Erindyah said in mid-August.

According to her, despite the heavy load of responsibilities he carried, Andi never let it diminish his attention to the institution's progress. He always made time to offer ideas, support various academic activities, and build partnerships for the development of UMS' Faculty of Pharmacy as well as pharmacy programs across Muhammadiyah-'Aisyiyah universities.

"He was someone full of dedication, dependable, and someone who always sought to bring benefit to the institution and to the people around him," she said.

To his colleagues, Andi was not just an academic, but also a friend who left a lasting impression. A member of the UMS SEFA and lecturer at the UMS Faculty of Pharmacy, Dr. Haryoto, M.Sc., remembered the late Andi as someone religious, caring, and always respectful of everyone.

"Pak Andi was a very good, religious, and caring colleague. When we attended visits and international seminars together in Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, and Singapore, he always left a good impression on everyone he met," Haryoto recalled in a separate interview.

Andi's leadership at the SEFA also left its own distinct mark. Haryoto said the late Andi always encouraged every member to stay active and grow together.

"During his time leading SEFA, he cared deeply about the members. He always invited us to take part in the various activities of the study center," he recalled.

That spirit didn't stop at internal activities. In every research or community service project, whether within UMS or together with external partners, Andi always kept up with the progress of his colleagues' work. To him, the team's success was a shared success.

"Whenever we had a project, he would always ask how far along the work had gotten. We also once took part together in an international seminar where we won the Best Presenter award, and joined the International Innovative Design Expo (iIDEX) 2025 in Selangor, Malaysia," Haryoto said.

Andi Suhendi stands as an example that dedication in academia is expressed not only through scholarly work and titles, but also through sincere human connection.

His passing is, of course, a great sorrow for the extended UMS family, particularly the Faculty of Pharmacy and the SEFA. Even so, the dedication, spirit of collaboration, and example he left behind will continue to live on and serve as an inspiration for colleagues, students, and the generations of academics who carry his work forward

We also remember Andi as someone who always made an ikhtiar (earnest effort) to bring benefit to others. And he always attached all of those efforts to the principle that new knowledge only truly matters once it reaches the community.

"Standardization is an important struggle so that Indonesia's rich natural resources can be developed into medicines that are safe, high-quality, and trustworthy. That is what I have continued to fight for together with my colleagues," the late Andi said in an interview titled Andi Suhendi's Journey with the UMS Web Team last year.

Writer: Genis Dwi Gustati

Translator: Farizal Luqman Majid

Editor: Al Habiib Josy Asheva