Richard Lai, MD
Dr. Richard Lai specializes in treating a wide spectrum of autoimmune, inflammatory and non-inflammatory conditions. These include connective tissue diseases such as Sjögren’s syndrome, lupus and scleroderma; various types of arthritis such as rheumatoid, psoriatic and gout; osteoporosis, vasculitis, muscle disorders like dermatomyositis and polymyositis, sarcoidosis, and IgG4-related diseases. In addition to his broad clinical focus, Dr. Lai is particularly passionate about advancing care for bone health and elevating treatment, education, and outcomes in these areas.
After earning his Honors Bachelor of Science from the University of Toronto, he completed an additional Bachelor of Science and medical degree at the University of Sint Eustatius School of Medicine. He later pursued postdoctoral research at the Jerome L. Greene Sjögren’s Syndrome Center at Johns Hopkins University. He continued his training with an internal medicine residency at MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center and a fellowship in rheumatology at MedStar Washington Hospital Center.
As a respected physician and educator, Dr. Lai has served as Principal Investigator on multiple groundbreaking studies, including the MIRROR trial investigating KRYSTEXXA® for uncontrolled gout and long-term studies on secukinumab for axial spondyloarthritis and radiographic progression. He has collaborated with global pharmaceutical leaders like Novartis and AMGEN and has presented abstracts at major conferences including EULAR 2024.
Dr. Lai's academic presentations have been recognized by the American College of Physicians (ACP) and the American College of Rheumatology (ACR). He has also served as an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Departments of Rheumatology and Primary Care at three well-regarded osteopathic medical schools in the Northwest region: Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine, Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine, and Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Born and raised in Taiwan before moving to Canada at age 15, Dr. Lai is part of a family of medical providers and a lifelong athlete. His passion for wellness extends far beyond the exam room, founding and leading both a Tai Chi Club and a Badminton Club in Great Falls, Montana. He currently serves as Commissioner of the Badminton Division for the Big Sky Games and hopes to bring this same enthusiasm to Gillette, by building a local badminton community and encouraging active living for all ages. In his free time, Dr. Lai enjoys fishing, organizing sports matches, and spending time outdoors with his wife, two daughters, and their dog.