Thao Dao (Rx2023) is the recipient of the 2026 British Columbia Pharmacy Association Award of Excellence: New Practitioner Award, recognized for her emerging leadership and commitment to equitable, patient-centred care.
“Winning this award is deeply meaningful to me and feels like a full-circle moment as a graduate of the University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy,” says Dao. “I’m profoundly grateful to the mentors who challenged, supported, and believed in me—their influence continues to shape how I practice and lead.”
Throughout her schooling, Dao built her path by saying yes to opportunities that broadened her perspective. During her co-op placements, she worked across diverse settings, including a formative third-year term in Peace River, a small town in northern Alberta, where she gained early insight into the realities of rural healthcare and disparities in access. She further deepened this understanding during her patient care rotations placement on Manitoulin Island, working in a family health team serving Indigenous communities, where she developed a strong foundation in culturally safe, community-informed care.
After graduation, Dao continued this approach as a relief pharmacist across British Columbia and Alberta, travelling to rural and remote communities. Across these settings, she supported patients facing barriers to care, with a focus on building trust and delivering respectful, culturally responsive services.
“This recognition is also a tribute to the incredible women in leadership who have shown me that there is no limit to what we can achieve. Their strength, compassion, and resilience have inspired me to lead boldly, uplift others, and prove that women can do it all—while opening doors for those who follow,” she says. “I am committed to carrying that forward by mentoring the next generation of pharmacists, advocating for my patients, and working to create meaningful, lasting change in healthcare.”
Dao now practices as a Pharmacy Operator at Burrard Pharmasave located downtown Vancouver. Part of her work involves a partnership with Providence Healthcare's Road to Recovery Transitional Care Unit, where she works within an interdisciplinary team to support patients affected by the toxic drug crisis and living with substance use disorder, many of whom have complex medical and social needs. Her work focuses on medication optimization, harm reduction, and ensuring safe, patient-centred transitions from hospital to community.
Congratulations, Thao!