Mentoring Medical Students in Research: Building Capacity Where Infrastructure Is Limited
Practical Strategies and Lessons from the SAMS Experience in Syria
MedRC is pleased to welcome Dr. Maria Hafez, MD, MS (د. ماريا حافظ) for a special webinar on mentoring medical students and creating meaningful research opportunities in settings where formal research infrastructure is limited.
Dr. Hafez is a Syrian-American physician board-certified in internal medicine, hematology, and medical oncology, specializing in breast cancer. She serves as Director of the Breast Cancer Program and Director of Oncology Clinical Trials and Research at St. Luke’s University Health Network in Pennsylvania and as an Associate Professor at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University. She also holds a master’s degree in Clinical and Translational Science.
An active member of the Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS), Dr. Hafez has participated in medical missions supporting communities in Syria. Drawing on her clinical, research, mentorship, and SAMS experience, she will discuss practical ways to guide medical students who have limited access to funding, training, institutional support, or experienced mentors.
The session will explore how to identify feasible research questions, establish structured mentorship, connect students with collaborators, and help trainees develop the skills needed to complete meaningful projects. Although the SAMS experience in Syria will provide a practical example, the strategies will be relevant to students, physicians, researchers, and educators working in resource-limited settings worldwide.
Webinar Details
Date: Sunday, October 18, 2026
Time: 12:30 PM ET | 11:30 AM CT | 7:30 PM Istanbul/Damascus
Platform: Live via Zoom
Registration: Free; advance registration is required
After registering, participants will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.