Pharmacy Guild welcomes Dr. John Gerrard as Queensland’s new Chief Health Officer

The Pharmacy Guild of Australia’s Queensland Branch President, Chris Owen, has welcomed yesterday’s announcement of Dr. John Gerrard as Queensland’s new Chief Health Officer (CHO) and has wished him all the best as he takes on the new role.

Mr. Owen said he was confident Dr. Gerrard would provide excellent leadership advising the state as Queensland navigates the next stages of the (COVID-19) pandemic.

“I have no doubt that Queensland will benefit greatly from Dr. Gerrard’s recent experience as Director of Infectious Diseases at Gold Coast University Hospital,” said Mr. Owen, “he was also the first in Queensland to treat a COVID patient.”

“Given this experience, it’s hard to imagine a candidate more suited than Dr Gerrard able to advise the state government through the next phase of the pandemic.”

Mr. Owen also took the opportunity to wish Dr. Young well in her new role as Governor of Queensland.
“We recently had the opportunity to award Dr. Young with our highest honour at the Pharmacy Guild by awarding her the Queensland Branch President’s Award,” said Mr. Owen.

“As a state, we owe a great deal to Dr. Young for her incredible leadership during the course of this pandemic,” said Mr. Owen.

“Community pharmacists could not have had a better partner than Dr. Young in helping us navigate this pandemic as we provided front-line care to our communities.

“We congratulate Dr. Gerrard on his new role, and we also commend the extraordinary effort by Dr Young and wish her the very best in her new role as Governor of Queensland as well,” said Mr. Owen.