Maria Hafez, Assistant Professor at St. Luke’s University Health Network, shared on LinkedIn:

“Research is not just about publications. It is about purpose, impact, and making a difference.

To all medical students, young physicians, and aspiring researchers: I invite you to join me for a discussion on mentoring medical students in research and building meaningful research capacity.

While I will share lessons from our experience with SAMS in Syria, our conversation will go beyond the challenges of conducting research in resource-limited settings.

I want to emphasize a message I believe is especially important for the next generation of physicians and researchers:

Don’t measure your success solely by the number of publications on your CV. Measure it by the impact your work can have.

Research should not simply be another requirement for residency applications or career advancement. It should be driven by curiosity, guided by real needs, and motivated by a desire to serve.

The most meaningful research is research that can improve patient outcomes, influence healthcare policies, address gaps in care, and make a lasting difference in our communities and countries.

You do not need unlimited resources or a prestigious institution to begin making a difference. You need meaningful questions, good mentorship, collaboration, perseverance, and a clear sense of purpose.

The goal is not simply to become a published researcher. It is to become a researcher whose work matters.

I look forward to connecting with the next generation of physicians and researchers!