Student-Led Initiatives in Deprescribing and Medication Appropriateness: 2025–2026 Program

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 empowering the next generation of healthcare professionals to become champions of medication appropriateness and deprescribing, 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 initiative offers pharmacy and medical students the opportunity to plan and lead an activity that raises awareness and understanding of medication appropriateness and deprescribing among their peers, preceptors, and/or faculty leads. Examples of eligible student-led activities include:

  • Organizing a presentation or interactive activity on medication appropriateness and deprescribing for peers and/or preceptors

  • 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.

Eligible expenses:

Eligible expenses for this project include (non-exhaustive list):

  • 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.

How to apply

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.

Deadline to apply

Submit your proposal before September 30th, 2025 by filling out the following form. Selected candidates will be contacted by October 31st, 2025.

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 overview of deprescribing.