Professor Dr Lai Siew Mei Pauline is a Professor of Clinical Pharmacy at the Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya. She obtained her Bachelor of Pharmacy in 1990 and completed her internship at the Mercy Hospital for Women (Melbourne) in1991.
At 22 years of age, she was a registered pharmacist with the Pharmacy Board of Australia and Malaysia. Upon her return to Malaysia, she worked as a hospital pharmacist at the University Hospital, Kuala Lumpur. However, troubled times loomed, and Pauline had to resign from her current position to become a bone marrow donor to her older sister (diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia) in Melbourne. This period of “unrest” spanned from 1992 until 1995, which involved job changes between Malaysia and Australia.
Upon her return to Malaysia in 1995, she resumed her career as a hospital pharmacist in University Malaya Medical Center. In 2005, Pauline registered as a master’s in medical science candidate at Universiti Malaya, while working full-time. Her research on osteoporosis progressed so well that it was successfully converted to a PhD project in 2007. Pauline graduated with a PhD in 2010.
Today, Professor Pauline Lai heads the Department of Primary Care Medicine Research Committee, providing extensive experience in the management of research students. She mentors younger academic colleagues in their research activities. She has been instrumental in developing online and face to face research workshops for the department and university.
Professor Pauline Lai specializes in implementation science, which promotes the systematic uptake of research findings and other evidence-based practices into routine practice that improves the quality and effectiveness of health services. Her research focuses on improving patient outcomes, empowering patients to self-manage and monitor their conditions, and promoting shared decision-making. Her research interests includes osteoporosis, advance care planning, deprescribing, antimicrobial stewardship, and community engagement.
Professor Pauline Lai also practices interprofessional collaboration in teaching medical and pharmacy students on how to prescribe. Innovative methods of teaching include utilizing the “jigsaw technique” and the “jeopardy game” with medical students. Within 15 years, she has supervised to completion 10 PhD, 10 Master's, and 16 clinical master’s students.
Apart from her academic achievements, Professor Pauline Lai has represented Universiti Malaya in the UM NUS golf tournaments since 2002 and continues to do so. She has won five “best ladies’ pair” trophies and is currently the vice-captain of the UM golf team.
Beyond the university, Professor Pauline Lai is appointed a member of the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) Technology Advisory Group from 2024 to 2027. She has been invited as a plenary speaker on the use of Artificial Intelligence in Pharmacy in Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and Australia. Additionally, Professor Pauline Lai co-chairs the Malaysian Pharmacists Society Health Technology, Devices & Innovation chapter (2023 – 2026).
Professor Pauline Lai remains deeply committed to advancing the field of clinical pharmacy through education, research, and mentorship, with the hope of nurturing the next generation of researchers and pharmacists to be future flame-of-the-forest trees, who will continue to inspire and lead.
