Financial Support for Student-Led Projects
Since 2025, CADeN has offered its student funding program: an initiative to support medication safety leadership among medicine, pharmacy, and nursing students across Canada. Students are invited to submit their ideas for an activity or resource promoting medication appropriateness and deprescribing among their peers.
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.
Our network’s mission is to help future healthcare professionals become changemakers: we are therefore delighted to offer a program that supports medical, pharmacy, and nursing students who wish to promote appropriate medication use and deprescribing practices. Furthermore, in a spirit of equity and inclusion, we strongly encourage applications from groups representing Indigenous and diverse communities.
Goal of the Program
This program aims to foster leadership among medical, pharmacy, and nursing 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 pharmacy, medicine, or nursing program during the 2026–2027 academic year, at either the undergraduate or graduate level, are eligible 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, 2026 and March 31st, 2027.
Applications for the 2026–2027 program will be held from late August to late September 2026.
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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 us (info@caden-recad.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.