Tristan Lai BSc(Pharm), RPh
Lecturer and Coordinator
Tristan Lai (he/him/his) graduated from the University of Alberta in 2015 with a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy, then received additional prescribing authorization from the Alberta College of Pharmacy in 2017. Tristan is a lecturer at the UBC Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences where he develops, coordinates and teaches courses in the Canadian Pharmacy Practice, the Entry-to-Practice PharmD program and the Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Sciences programs. Tristan’s research and academic work equips students with the necessary knowledge, skills and attitudes to provide safe, quality and dignified client-centered care, for all diverse segments of our society. Most notably, he co-pioneered Canada’s first integrated 2SLGBTQ+ pharmacy curriculum, embedding equity, diversity and inclusion principles into undergraduate pharmacist training. As a practicing clinician, Tristan is experienced in working alongside underserved communities to address their health needs. In recognition of his exemplary leadership and outstanding record of community service, Tristan was awarded the Wellspring Leadership Award in 2024 by the Canadian Foundation for Pharmacy and the Bowl of Hygeia in 2019 by the Alberta College of Pharmacy and the Alberta Pharmacists’ Association.
Lai T. Wellspring Pharmacy Leadership Award. Canadian Foundation for Pharmacy. 2024.
Lai T. Pfizer Healthcare Consumer Bowl of Hygeia Award. Alberta College of Pharmacy and Alberta Pharmacists' Association. 2019.
Swidrovich J, Ajiboye W, Henry R, Tan A. Collaborators: Acharya S, Dame J, Lai T, Lamb A, Lim T, McCrady K, Poitras P, Ruben A, Scarfone K, Schonbe A, Tang A, Waters B. A culturally responsive prospective study to improve education and access to HIV preexposure prophylaxis for First Nations, Métis and Inuit Peoples. $76,500. Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Government of Canada. 2025.
Meng Y, Lai T, Tang A. Enhancing access to gender affirming products through the First Nations Health Authority Benefits program. $2,000. Trans Care BC, Provincial Health Services Authority. 2025.
Lai T. LGBTQ+ Leadership Program. $3,500. Wellspring Pharmacy Leadership Grant, Canadian Foundation for Pharmacy. 2024.
Lim T, Lai T, Tang A. Queer eye for Pharm Sci: Supporting sexual orientation, gender identity and expression integration into pharmacy programs. $10,000. Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences Strategic Plan Implementation Investment Fund, The University of British Columbia. 2024–2026.
Lai T, Tang A. Promoting 2SLGBTQ+ inclusion, diversity, and equity in pharmacy education (PRIDE-RX). $250,000. Teaching and Learning Enhancement Fund, The University of British Columbia. 2022–2025.
Lai T. University of Warsaw Erasmus+ Staff Week 2024. €2,480. (Erasmus+ Grant, Erasmus Programme.
Lai T. “This should be included in our normal content": Evaluation of an upper-year 2SLGBTQ+ pharmacy classroom-based elective. $1,000. Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Dissemination Fund, The University of British Columbia. 2024.
Kaban C, Lai T. Wellness night. $1,200. Partnership Recognition and Exploration Fund, The University of British Columbia. 2023.
Gaudin M, Lai T. Celebrating our cultural food heritage: A community kitchen series for Downtown Eastside families. $1,500. Partnership Recognition and Exploration Fund, The University of British Columbia. 2023. (Awarded but declined)
Lai T, Lim T, Chen L. Category is… vogue. $900. Move UBC Grant, The University of British Columbia. 2023.
Newman T, Lai T. Light up the holidays. $1,500. Partnership Recognition and Exploration Fund, The University of British Columbia. 2022.
Gaudin M, Lai T. Community kitchen partnership for wellness and food security. $1,500. Partnership Recognition and Exploration Fund, The University of British Columbia. 2022.
Lai T. Utilizing near-peer teaching in a pharmacy community service-learning course. $1,000. Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Dissemination Fund, The University of British Columbia. 2022.
Lai T, Lim T, Tang A. Promoting 2SLGBTQQIA+ inclusion, diversity, and equity in pharmacy education (PRIDE-RX). $4,000. Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Internal Seed Grant Program for Educational Leadership, The University of British Columbia. 2021.
Lam T, Lai T. Into the world again: A community art exhibit. $1,500. Partnership Recognition Fund, The University of British Columbia. 2021.
Lai T, Wright R. Leading with Inclusion: Building an Equitable and Diverse Workplace. Oral presentation (workshop) presented at the Phi Lambda Sigma Society Pharmacy Leadership Conference (Vancouver, Canada). February 28, 2025.
Tang A, Lai T, Fanous M. 2SLGBTQ+ Patient Care in Canadian Pharmacy Practice. Oral Presentation at the IPG Mentorship & Integration Program, Canadian Pharmacists Association (Online). January 22, 2025.
Lai T, Tang A. You think PrEP just fell out of a coconut tree? Engaging communities to reimagine the HIV PrEP program in BC, Oral presentation at the Community-Based Research Centre Summit 2024. November 21–22, 2024.
Chen L, Lai T, Tang A. Co-creating an integrated 2SLGBTQ+ pharmacy curriculum with communities: Successes and learnings from years one and two of the Queer Curriculum Advisory Committee. Oral presentation at the UBC Centre for Health Education Scholarship Celebration of Scholarship (Vancouver, Canada). October 2, 2024.
Chen L, Lai T, Lim T, Tang A. Co-creating an integrated 2SLGBTQ+ pharmacy curriculum with communities: Successes and learnings from years one and two of the Queer Curriculum Advisory Committee. Poster presentation at the FIP World Congress of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (Cape Town, South Africa). September 1–4, 2024.
Lim T, Ruben A, Lamb A, Rocci M, Lai T, Tang A, Gebre A, Salokangas E, Brewer A, Swidrovich J, Cooper J. Equity-diversity-inclusion and indigenous training for pharmacy professionals and students working in and with interprofessional primary care teams. Poster presentation at the FIP World Congress of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (Cape Town, South Africa). September 1–4, 2024.
Lai T, Tang A. ‘Nothing about us without us.’ – Co-creating an integrated 2SLGBTQ+ curriculum at UBC. Oral presentation at the AFPC Canadian Pharmacy Education and Research Conference (Quebec City, Canada). June 12, 2024.
Manhas J, Lai T, Tang A, Varao-Sousa T. “This should be included in our normal content.”: Evaluation of an upper-year 2SLGBTQ+ pharmacy classroom-based elective. Poster presentation at the AFPC Canadian Pharmacy Education and Research Conference (Quebec City, Canada). June 12–13, 2024.
Chen L, Aboulrezzak R, Tang A, Lai T. Inclusive pharmacy: Where are we and how can we do better? A study on the experiences of 2SLGBTQ+ clients receiving care and pharmacists providing care in British Columbia. Oral presentation at the AFPC Canadian Pharmacy Education and Research Conference (Quebec City, Canada). June 13, 2024.
Ruben A, Lim T, Lamb A, Swidrovich J, Lai T, Tang A, Brewer A, Gebre A, Salokangas E. Equity-diversity-inclusion and indigenous training for pharmacy professionals and students working in and with interprofessional primary care teams. Oral presentation at the AFPC Canadian Pharmacy Education and Research Conference (Quebec City, Canada). June 12, 2024.
Tsai M, Chen L, Lai T, Tang A. Co-creating an inclusive healthcare curriculum with 2S/LGBTQ+ communities: evaluation of the queer curriculum advisory committee. Poster presentation at the Community-Based Research Centre Summit 2023 (Vancouver, Canada). November 17–17, 2023.
Tang A, Lai T. PRIDE-RX progress updates: navigating the straights and narrow of higher education. Oral presentation at the AFPC Canadian Pharmacy Education and Research Conference (Winnipeg, Canada). June 15, 2023. doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/17151635231207694
Manhas J, Ng C, Lai T, Tang A. Evaluation of a mandatory first-year lecture and a second-year workshop on sexual orientation, gender identity and expression. Poster presentation at the AFPC Canadian Pharmacy Education and Research Conference (Winnipeg, Canada). June 14–15, 2023. doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/17151635231207694
Chen L, Tsai M, Tang A, Lai T. Evaluation of the queer curriculum advisory committee: co-creating a SOGIE-inclusive pharmacy curriculum through community engagement. Poster presentation at the AFPC Canadian Pharmacy Education and Research Conference (Winnipeg, Canada). June 14–15, 2023. doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/17151635231207694
Tsai M, Manhas J, Lai T, Tang A, Chen L, Ng C. Promoting 2SLGBTQQIA+ inclusion, diversity, and equity in pharmacy education (PRIDE-RX): progress updates. UBC 2023 TLEF and ALT-2050 Showcase (Virtual). May 4, 2023.
Lai T, Chen L. Queering pharmacy education: navigating the straights and narrow. Invited oral presentation at the Inclusive Health Conference (Edmonton, Canada). March 25, 2023.
Lai T, Tang A. Crashing the cis-stem: understanding SOGIE inclusive pharmacy practice. Invited oral presentation at the Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists Manitoba Branch Fall Half Day (Winnipeg, Canada). October 15, 2022.
Lai T. Utilizing near-peer teaching in a pharmacy community service learning course. Poster presentation at the AFPC Canadian Pharmacy Education and Research Conference. June 16–17, 2022. doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/17151635221135415
Lai T, Tang A. Promoting 2SLGBTQQIA+ inclusion, diversity, and equity (PRIDE-RX). Oral presentation at the AFPC Canadian Pharmacy Education and Research Conference. June 16, 2022.doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/17151635221135415
Lai T, Lim T, Tang A. Promoting 2SLGBTQQIA+ inclusion, diversity, and equity (PRIDE-RX). Poster presentation at Community-Based Research Centre Summit 2021. October 28–29, 2021.
Prescription for Inclusive Healthcare: Pharmacy lecturers Alex Tang and Tristan Lai have developed a queer- and trans-inclusive pharmacy curriculum. UBC Today, The University of British Columbia. September, 2024. https://ubctoday.ubc.ca/stories/september-16-2024/prescription-inclusive-healthcare
Pharmacy appreciation month 2024: Alex Tang and Tristan Lai. Blog post, Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists, BC Branch. March, 2024. https://cshp-bc.com/alex-tang-and-tristan-lai/
PRIDE-RX: Advancing gender and sexual health equity through pharmacy education. The Tablet, British Columbia Pharmacy Association. August, 2023. https://www.bcpharmacy.ca/tablet/summer-23/pride-rx-advancing-gender-and-sexual-health-equity-through-pharmacy-education
Pharmacy check-in: Meet Tristan Lai. Blog post, Canadian Pharmacists Association. June, 2023. https://www.pharmacists.ca/news-events/news/pharmacy-check-in-meet-tristan-lai/
