As third-year students in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto, Ali Butt and Marta Karpinski know firsthand the many competing demands of medical education and training. That’s why when they took on the role of student leaders in the STARS (Students and Trainees Advocating for Resource Stewardship) program, they set out to create a pocket-size solution to easily incorporate resource stewardship principles in practice.

As STARS student leaders from 2022-2023, Ali and Marta developed pocket cards designed to be attached to hospital ID lanyards featuring Choosing Wisely Canada Family Medicine recommendations. This practical tool aims to promote resource stewardship among medical students by providing easy access to guidelines during clinical rotations, serving as a reminder to apply these principles and encourage discussions with preceptors and patients.

Since the creation of the pocket card, the project has gained significant interest from medical students across Canada, leading to collaboration with student leaders at McGill University.

“Moving forward, we hope to engage more medical schools to consider using our pocket cards and to expand our project into a series of pocket cards for various specialties,” they share.

One of the reasons Ali and Marta were first interested in the STARS program was the opportunity to create and lead innovative projects. Ali’s interest in minimizing overuse to both improve patient care and the environment drove his involvement. Through the program’s blend of theoretical and practical application, Ali saw how initiatives like STARS could positively impact real-world practice. Marta’s graduate studies were focused on addressing research waste, which occurs when insufficient thought is put into designing and reporting studies in ways that are useful and relevant to end users. Combining their interests in theory and practice, they aimed to create a STARS project that was not only informative – but useful for medical learners.

Ali and Marta were honoured for this work with the 2023 Choosing Wisely Canada SuperSTARS Award of Excellence. This award acknowledges exemplary leadership within STARS projects and outreach activities aimed at engaging medical students. The award provided them with the opportunity to showcase their project at the 2023 Choosing Wisely Canada National Meeting in Toronto.

Ali and Marta are looking forward to taking these practical learnings from the STARS program in their future medical professional pursuits. Ali is interested in exploring resource stewardship within family medicine and through missions with Doctors Without Borders, while Marta aims to apply these principles in the field of surgery. Both students plan to pursue further education and training in quality improvement, alongside gaining practical experience through internships and other professional development opportunities. They aspire to take on roles that promote responsible resource management and work for organizations committed to innovative approaches to creating a sustainable health care system.

STARS student leaders, like Ali and Marta, demonstrate how interests combined with practical application can create simple yet innovative solutions for everyday practice. Projects like these are paving the way for the next generation of medical professionals committed to resource stewardship and sustainability in health care.