Biographical entry: Beck, Peter
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Born on Ranongga Island in the Western District, Peter Beck attended the Methodists' Kokeqolo School before enrolling at the Suva Medical School, from which he graduated in 1955 as head student with gold medals for medicine, obstetrics and physiology. He joined the Solomon Islands Medical Department as an Assistant Medical Officer in 1956, and from then until 1963 held posts at Gizo, Auki and Kirakira hospitals. In 1958 he joined the yaws eradication program and attended a Health Organisation Seminar on health in Papua New Guinea. In 1963, Beck received a six-month World Health Organisation scholarship to attend a course in public health administration at the Fiji School of Medicine in Suva, from which he received a Certificate in Public Health. In 1964 and 1967, he attended seminars on environmental health in Papua New Guinea and a post-graduate training course in Dunedin, New Zealand, from which he received a Diploma in Public Health. He worked in hospitals in New Zealand and Fiji before returning to Central Hospital, and he was designated tuberculosis and leprosy officer in 1969. He was promoted to Medical Superintendent in 1974 and between 1970 and 1974 attended five World Health Organisation and other bodies' seminars on leprosy, health planning and administration. In 1974, Beck held three posts: Deputy Director of Medical Services, acting Chief Medical Officer, and acting Chief Administrative Officer. In January 1975 he became Permanent Secretary for Health and Welfare. (NS 31 Jan. 1963; SND 25 July 1975)