A team from the University of British Columbia's Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences has been named a recipient of the 2025 D2L Innovation Award in Teaching and Learning for their PrideRx, which promotes 2SLGBTQ+ inclusion, diversity, and equity in pharmacy education.
The team—Tristan Lai, Alex Tang, Lillian Chen, and Timothy Lim—designed and implemented PrideRx, a longitudinal, student-centred curriculum embedded within UBC’s Entry-to-Practice Doctor of Pharmacy program. The initiative integrates sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression (SOGIE) education across didactic, skills-based, and experiential learning. By addressing long-standing health inequities faced by 2SLGBTQ+ communities, PrideRx equips future pharmacists with the competencies necessary to deliver affirming and inclusive care.
Working closely with community partners, the team used a constructive alignment approach to co-create six program learning outcomes (PLOs) that were mapped across all four years of the pharmacy curriculum. From 2022 to 2024, these PLOs were implemented through a variety of required and elective learning opportunities, including lectures, workshops, modules, and community-engaged practicums.
Evaluations through surveys and focus groups highlighted strong student engagement, meaningful skills development, and growing confidence in providing care for 2SLGBTQ+ clients. Over 75% of students found the mandatory content useful, and all students who completed the full curriculum reported improved competence in 2SLGBTQ+ health care delivery.
The team’s work culminated in the creation of a spiral curricular framework based on Bruner’s cognitive theory, which scaffolds student learning by building on foundational concepts through progressive, integrated instruction—ensuring both depth and reinforcement of inclusive care competencies.
Established in 2012 and sponsored by D2L (Desire2Learn), the D2L Innovation Award in Teaching and Learning recognizes up to five outstanding collaborative teaching teams from across the post-secondary sector each year. The award honours innovative, student-centred teaching practices that significantly enhance learning outcomes.
Each team is celebrated during the Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (STLHE) Annual Conference, where recipients receive individual certificates and present their projects during a dedicated showcase session.
Read more about the award and this year’s recipients here. For more information on PrideRx, visit priderx.pharmsci.ubc.ca.