Benjamin Lai, M.B., B.Ch., B.A.O.

Benjamin Lai, M.B., B.h., B.A.O., M.D., is a family medicine physician at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, where he cares for people in the community and surrounding areas. Dr. Lai's clinical practice focuses on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of substance use disorders and the management of chronic pain through a comprehensive, individualized approach. He is committed to helping patients navigate complex health challenges by integrating medical, behavioral, and social support strategies into their care.

In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Lai leads as Medical Director of the Mayo Clinic Enterprise Opioid Stewardship Program and serves as an Assistant Professor of Family Medicine. His care philosophy reflects a deep commitment to whole-person care: "I believe in caring for the whole person through a biopsychosocial-spiritual approach. I value the opportunity to listen, connect, and partner with my patients in their care. While I strive to be a trusted resource for them, I equally value the perspectives, experiences, and lessons they share with me."

Areas of expertise

Dr. Lai partners with his patients to address their medical needs through evidence-based treatments and collaborative decision-making. His areas of expertise include:

• Substance use disorder care: Comprehensive evaluation and medication-assisted treatment, including buprenorphine therapy.
• Chronic pain management: Non-opioid and opioid stewardship strategies for safe and effective pain control.
• Mental health support: Integrated care for depression, anxiety, and related conditions as part of primary care.
• Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): Diagnosis and ongoing management within a family medicine framework.
• Joint injections: Therapeutic injections for musculoskeletal pain and inflammation.
• Occipital nerve blocks: Targeted treatment for chronic headaches or occipital neuralgia symptoms.
• Long-acting reversible contraception: Insertion and removal for timing and planning of family goals.
• Dermatologic procedures: Skin biopsies and toenail removal performed in an outpatient setting.

Research and professional highlights

Dr. Lai is an Assistant Professor of Family Medicine and Medical Director of the Mayo Clinic Enterprise Opioid Stewardship Program, where he leads initiatives to optimize safe prescribing and improve patient outcomes. Board-certified in family medicine and addiction medicine, he plays an active role in advancing quality improvement and clinical education.

He dedicates part of his professional time to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Division of Overdose Prevention as a Subject Matter Expert, contributing to the development of national clinical quality measures aligned with the 2022 CDC Clinical Practice Guideline for Prescribing Opioids. His scholarly work spans opioid stewardship, substance use disorder treatment, and integrating mental health care into primary care.

Personal note

Outside of his professional commitments, Dr. Lai enjoys traveling, training for half-marathons and marathons, and learning new languages.