Kirby Lee, PharmD | UCSF Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies

Kirby Lee in front of IHPS offices at Laurel Heights — *Kirby Lee*

It is with sadness that we share the news of the recent death of Kirby Lee, PharmD, an IHPS affiliated faculty member and Associate Professor of Clinical Pharmacy. Kirby completed a post-doctoral fellowship at IHPS in 2005. As a fellow, he worked with IHPS-faculty member Lisa Bero on studies of research integrity with a particular interest in publication bias and how journal editorial policies shaped what journals published and influenced the clinical evidence base and health policy. His work on the policy implications of publication bias reflected Kirby’s constant interest in how our systems of care can improve patient care and welfare. He continued this work as a faculty member in the Department of Clinical Pharmacy. He contributed to the design and implementation of new infrastructure to centralize UCSF pharmacy services in order to ensure medications were provided for our patients safely, promptly, and efficiently. For the last 10 years, he has worked with the team at the UCSF Memory and Aging Center developing services to support caregivers of older adults living with dementia. Kirby developed and tested a highly effective medication review intervention that was deeply valued by the research team and even more so by the caregivers and patients who participated in the program. As his academic pathway illustrates, Kirby was intellectually broad and curious. He brought keen insights to all he did — a treasured member of research teams and a passionate lifelong learner. Kirby’s presence in IHPS seminars was always eager, productive, and supportive. He connected easily with people and his presence always enlivened the room. Kirby was an adventurer for whom surfing the California coast was a lifelong passion. His death occurred following a surfing accident at Ocean Beach on November 2. He is survived by his wife and two children. If you would like to learn more about future plans for a memorial or to support his family, please visit the CaringBridge page - https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/kirbylee2.