Second-year McGill medical students Peter Malik and Mary Roper were recently recognized with the SuperSTARS Award by Choosing Wisely Canada for their “Pocket Card” survey initiative. As part of the award, the two presented Medical Student Perspectives on Resource Stewardship: The ‘Pocket Card’ Survey last month at Choosing Wisely Canada’s 10-Year Anniversary National Meeting, held in Montreal.
It can be a challenge for trainees to remember clinical guidelines and testing/treatment indications for specific medical conditions, especially when starting the transition to clinical practice. The Pocket Card is a student-developed, simple and accessible clinical reminder tool that provides evidence-based recommendations published by Choosing Wisely Canada.
“The project we have completed furthers research about the perspectives and knowledge of resource stewardship and Choosing Wisely principles among pre-clerkship medical students, providing future insights for medical education,” says Mary. “Being selected for the SuperSTARS award is an incredible honor and I am delighted to share the results of this project and continue to pursue advancements in this field.”
“I am interested in the use of innovative educational approaches in supporting evidence-based practice and improving access to healthcare, as well as the evaluation of novel interventions in the Canadian healthcare context,” adds Peter. “These interests compelled my involvement with the High-Value Care club at McGill and the Choosing Wisely Canada campaign through the Students and Trainee’s Advocating for Resource Stewardship (STARS) program. Receiving this award reflects the important need that my peers and I recognize in using the best available evidence to guide high-value decisions in healthcare.”
Through their work, the students hosted a variety of events and educational talks, including distinguished faculty from the Canadian Medication Appropriateness and Deprescribing Network and Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, providing their classmates with capacity-building opportunities to become stewards in their respective clinical journeys.
Before beginning medical school, Peter completed a Bachelor of Health Sciences degree and a Master’s in Health Research Methodology at McMaster University, where his thesis centered around the characterization of learning curves in minimally invasive surgery. He then joined the Therapeutics Initiative at the University of British Columbia, working on a Cochrane Review and Meta-analysis on the impact of post-market regulatory communications to physicians on patient outcomes and prescribing patterns.
Mary completed the Med-P program at McGill before entering medical school and discovered her interest in the field of resource stewardship and joined the High Value Care Club at McGill. Mary is passionate about reducing unnecessary procedures and tests and promoting high value medicine throughout her medical career.
“We would like to express our utmost gratitude to Dr. Silverstein, Ms. Goodale, and Dr. Grad for their support of this initiative through the STARS program,” note the two students. “We would also like to thank Marta Karpinski, 2022-2023 STARS representative from the Temerty School of Medicine, University of Toronto, who designed the Pocket Cards, as well as Alicia Shen and Tania Morin, outgoing STARS representatives at McGill, who played an instrumental role in bringing this project to McGill.”
Congratulations Peter and Mary!