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International Symposium

Care Equity, Quality, and Safety

Identifying Roadblocks to Conducting Research for Residents in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Tuesday, October 14, 2025
9:30 AM - 10:30 AM EDT
Location: 103
CME/MOC Credit: 1
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: Research in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) is pivotal to improving global healthcare outcomes, yet residents in these settings often face substantial barriers in conducting research. These obstacles—ranging from financial constraints, such as prohibitive IRB fees, to limited institutional support and inadequate mentorship—significantly hinder the development of resident-led research initiatives. This panel will critically examine these challenges and propose actionable strategies for overcoming them.
Drawing from real-world examples in academic institutions in Mekele, Ethiopia, and Kampala, Uganda, panelists will provide a nuanced analysis of the systemic barriers to research faced by residents in LMICs. Discussion will focus on targeted interventions, such as enhancing mentorship programs, improving access to research education, and creating sustainable institutional frameworks that foster research productivity. Additionally, the session will emphasize the importance of bi-directional mentorship between LMIC residents and mentors from high-income countries (HICs) to bridge knowledge gaps and enhance research capacity.
Ultimately, this panel will offer practical solutions to create a supportive environment that nurtures resident research in LMICs, with a focus on reducing financial barriers, improving mentorship, and fostering cross-cultural research collaboration.

Learning Objectives:

  1. Identify and evaluate the primary barriers that residents in LMICs face in conducting research, including financial, institutional, and educational limitations, and discuss strategies to foster an environment conducive to resident-led research initiatives.
  2. Analyze the impact of financial barriers, particularly the cost of IRB approval, on research productivity and propose concrete solutions to reduce these obstacles and enhance institutional support for research in LMICs.
  3. Examine the role of mentorship, with a particular focus on bi-directional collaborations between LMIC residents and HIC mentors, as a critical tool in developing research capacity and overcoming the barriers to research in resource-limited settings.

    Moderator(s)

  • Myra A. Zaheer, BA

    Medical Student
    George Washington University, School of Medicine & Health Sciences
    Bourbonnais, Illinois, United States

    Disclosure(s):

    faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

    • Panelist(s)

  • Mary Jue Xu, MD

    Assistant Professor
    University of California - San Francisco
    San Francisco, California, United States

    Disclosure(s):

    faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

  • RP

    Rolvix H. Patterson, III, MD, MPH

    PGY-6 Resident
    Duke University Medical Center
    Durham, NC, United States

    Disclosure(s):

    faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

  • Cody L. Messick, BS

    Medical Student
    The Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine
    Phoenix, Arizona, United States

    Disclosure information not submitted.