Who was Eric Kirk?

Highlights of Eric’s Career in Pharmacy

Introduction of Ward Pharmacy in WA leading to the development of Clinical Pharmacy practice.

He was the driving force behind the creation of a career structure for hospital pharmacists in WA.

Through his leadership Eric inspired his staff of pharmacists to develop new aspects of pharmacy practice in his department at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital. These included clinical pharmacy, the development of a drug information centre, therapeutic drug monitoring and lectures to nursing staff. He actively supported the development of clinical pharmacy at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital to the extent that the hospital was seen as the foremost proponent of clinical practice in Australia in the 1970s.

His encouragement of his staff to further their knowledge and contribution to patient care at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital led directly to the introduction of formal post graduate education courses in pharmacy at the West Australian Institute of Technology (now Curtin University).

Whilst Federal President of the Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia (SHPA), he introduced the concept of Action Committees which subsequently developed into the Speciality Practice Committees of today's SHPA.

He was the instigator of the development of a formal training programme for hospital pharmacy support staff which led to the establishment of the Technical School Diploma that enables support staff to graduate as Pharmacy Technicians.

Whilst President of the Pharmaceutical Council of WA he introduced the concept of continuing education to Western Australian pharmacy. He was the first person in the State to alert the profession to the significance of health promotion as an important aspect of pharmacy practice.

Positions held include:

• President of the Pharmaceutical Council of WA

• Federal President of the SHPA Chairman of SHPA (WA Branch)

• Chief Pharmacist, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital.