Alex Tang and Tristan Lai
Lecturer and Coordinator
Tristan Lai
Alex Tang
Profile submitted by: Reema Abdoulrezzak
Brief description of role or responsibilities
Alex Tang and Tristan Lai are both Lecturer and Coordinators within the UBC Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences. Over the last two years, they have collaborated with community advisory experts and faculty members, to integrate of sexual orientation, gender identity and expression (SOGIE) curriculum within the four-year E2P PharmD curriculum at UBC. They have worked diligently to develop opportunities within mandatory and elective courses as well as clinical integration activities. For example, they developed and taught a third-year elective course that helps students gain a deeper understanding of the historical and contemporary contexts, selected therapeutic topics and the role of pharmacists in 2SLGBTQ+ health.
Describe how the individual or team made a positive contribution to patient care or their pharmacy department:
I have had the great pleasure to learn from two incredible leaders who are shaping the future of pharmacy through their efforts in advocating for a more accessible health care system. They do so by centering education around the needs of the 2SLGBTQ+ communities and equipping students with the tools to provide inclusive patient-centred care. They are dedicated to deconstructing the cisheteronormative structures and social constructs, and addressing the current gaps within our health care system through education. As a project team member, I am inspired by their dedication to equity and inclusion by strengthening our academic community. I have appreciated their mentorship in helping me understand how I can enhance my own research skills. They continuously create a welcoming space for students to feel comfortable moving out of the comfort zones, feeling more confident to think critically and helping them understand how to provide inclusive care. They are innovators who work to create new opportunities for curriculum development, including, designing and creating new practicums for fourth year PharmD students to collaborate with community-based organizations. The continuity of these educational experiences helps students apply the knowledge gained from the third-year elective course to real-world clinical practice. Through all their work, they highlight the importance of using anti-oppression frameworks to address how intersectionality contributes to the experiences of 2SLGBTQ+ patients. Their work continues to serve as a model for how pharmacists can continue to be one of the most accessible health care professionals by providing truly inclusive care. Thank you for caring about your students and making them feel valued!