Funding Opportunity for Student-Led Initiatives: 2025–2026 Program
This year, CADeN launched its student funding program: an initiative to support medication safety leadership among medicine and pharmacy students in Canada. Students were invited to submit an idea for an activity or resource promoting medication appropriateness and deprescribing among their peers.
We were blown away by students’ enthusiasm for this topic and the creativity of their educational initiatives, and are thrilled to announce the initiatives selected to receive funding to help bring their activity to life:
"Integrating Deprescribing and Medication Appropriateness into Clinical Skills: Mock Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs)”, a simulation activity by June Xie, Andrew Huynh, Kritika Taparia and Steven Choi, medicine students from McMaster University.
"Cascada!: Le Uno! des cascades médicamenteuses”, a boardgame by pharmacist students Lilia Ben Abdelkader from Université Laval and Razmig Aredjian from Université de Montréal, and medicine student Meghan Kanou from McGill University.
"Integrating Choosing Wisely Principles into Medical and Pharmacy Training: A Workshop on Medication Appropriateness and Deprescribing”, an interactive learning activity by Stephanie Quon, medicine student from The University of British Columbia
"Regards croisés : la déprescription au cœur des pratiques cliniques”, a short documentary by Saba Momenirad, medicine student at Université de Montréal
"Deprescribing in Geriatric Women”, a case-based presentation led by Alexa Harvey, pharmacy student from the University of Ottawa
“Deprescribing Day: A Practical Workshop”, a hands-oninterprofessional activity led by Taylor Skinner, medicine student from Memorial University, Newfoundland and Labrador
Congratulations to these inspiring students! Thank you for your dedication to raising awareness about medication appropriateness, deprescribing and promoting interprofessional collaboration!
The call for this submission is closed for this year.
Overview of the Program
Healthcare professional students play a key role in transforming how care is delivered. Their ideas, initiative, and creative problem-solving help drive continuous improvement in the health system.
As part of our network’s commitment to empower student champions and the next generation of healthcare professionals, we’re excited to launch a new initiative supporting medical and pharmacy students interested in promoting appropriate medication use and deprescribing practices.
Goal of the Program
This program aims to foster leadership among medical and pharmacy students by raising awareness and deepening understanding of medication appropriateness and deprescribing. It provides students funding support to plan and lead related activities for their peers.
Examples of eligible student-led activities include:
Organizing a presentation or interactive activity on medication appropriateness and deprescribing for peers and/or student clubs
Planning a journal club to discuss a relevant article on medication appropriateness and deprescribing with peers and/or preceptors
Meeting with program leads to explore integrating medication appropriateness and deprescribing into the medical or pharmacy curriculum
Representing student voices on this topic at healthcare-related conferences or events
Have a different idea in mind?
Submit your creative proposal for a chance to bring it to life!
Eligible candidates:
Students and student teams enrolled in a Canadian Faculty of pharmacy or medicine during the 2025–2026 academic year are eligible to apply. Undergraduate and graduate students are encouraged to apply.
Eligible expenses:
Examples of eligible expenses for this project include:
Honorarium or stipend for an invited speaker
Audiovisual equipment or room rental for the activity
Purchase of a prize to encourage participation (e.g., gift card)
Refreshments or food served at the activity
Funding Available:
Selected candidates or teams will receive up to $500 (CAD) to support their activity. Please note that activities must take place between October 1st, 2025 and March 31st, 2026.
Application Process
We invite students or student teams to submit a short proposal for the activity they wish to lead using the following form. The application should include details about the type of activity, how it will support the goal of raising awareness of deprescribing and medication appropriateness, and a brief budget outlining planned expenses.
Application Deadline
Submit your proposal before September 30th, 2025, 11:59PM (ET) by filling out the following form. Selected candidates will be contacted by October 31st, 2025.
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The proposals will be evaluated on the following criteria:
Clarity of Proposal (5 points): Is the activity clearly described, including its target audience, objectives, and anticipated outcomes?
Alignment with Program Goals (5 points): Does the activity support the overarching aim of the program? That is, to foster leadership among medical and pharmacy students by raising awareness and deepening understanding of medication appropriateness and deprescribing?
Feasibility (4 points): Is the proposed activity practical and achievable within the given timeframe and resources?
Audience Appropriateness (2 points): Is the activity well-suited to the intended audience?
Engagement and Relevance (4 points): Does the proposal explain how the activity will engage participants? Does the proposal explain how this activity will improve the training of future health care professionals?
Budget Consideration (2 points): Is the proposed budget reasonable and appropriate for the scope of the activity?
Bonus – Interprofessional Focus (2 points): Does the activity also involve or target student groups of other health professions?
Bonus – Creativity (2 points): Does the proposal demonstrate originality or innovative thinking?
Looking for inspiration? Check out our student hub to find essential deprescribing resources for students and examples of past student initiatives.
For more information
Please do not hesitate to contact Tiphaine Pierson, Research and Communications Specialist (tiphaine.pierson@rimuhc.ca) with any questions about this program.
Want to learn more about medication appropriateness and deprescribing? Check out our educational resources for clinicians or our public-friendly deprescribing ressources.