The Residency PBLP Scholarship Award honours Family Medicine residents whose scholarly projects advance small group learning through research, quality improvement, and educational program development. Rooted in evidence-based principles, collaboration, and reflection, these projects remind us how learning together can spark meaningful change in patient care.
This year’s top winners demonstrated the extraordinary impact of small group learning when paired with creativity and commitment. At McMaster University, Drs. Jocelyne Beelen, Dilini Kekulawala, Adam Kulesza, and David Nash addressed gaps in prescribing practices by harnessing simple tools—such as the viral prescription pad—and using morning huddles with physicians, residents, nurses, and allied health staff to reflect on guidelines. Their work showed how even modest interventions, when reinforced through daily group reflection, can shift habits and strengthen patient care.
At Queen’s University, Dr. Anchaleena Mandal brought a similarly collaborative spirit to the urgent issue of intimate partner violence. Drawing on expert insights and resident feedback, she created an interactive educational session delivered at Grand Rounds, sparking peer discussion and collective problem-solving. The iterative design not only modelled reflective practice but also produced an open-access resource that extends far beyond a single teaching moment, encouraging lifelong learning for residents and future practitioners alike.
Meanwhile, at the University of British Columbia, Dr. Abiodun Munis turned attention to preventive medicine—an area often overshadowed in daily practice but critical to long-term health outcomes. Her research underscored how small group learning and interactive CME sessions could support physicians in adopting less common preventive measures. She also highlighted systemic opportunities, such as restoring a billable preventive care visit and building coordinated systems to notify patients directly when they become eligible for screenings. Such innovations have the potential to transform preventive care uptake across the province.
Together, these projects illustrate how residents are not only learners but leaders—capable of questioning the status quo, designing practical solutions, and fostering reflection among their peers. Whether improving prescribing habits, strengthening responses to intimate partner violence, or advancing preventive health, this year’s award recipients have shown that small group learning is more than an educational tool—it is a catalyst for enduring improvements in healthcare.
The 2025 Residency PBLP Scholarship Award winners stand as an inspiring reminder: When we learn together, we move medicine forward.Please note: The next application period will open on February 1, 2026 until mid-May. If you have any questions, please contact us at residencypblp@mcmaster.ca.