Background
Patricia Kailis was born Patricia Verne Hurse in Castlemaine, Victoria.
Patricia Kailis was born Patricia Verne Hurse in Castlemaine, Victoria.
In 1958 she moved to Perth to work at Royal Perth, Princess Margaret and King Edward Memorial hospitals. Here, Kailis became the local general practitioner. The couple also established themselves in ship building, the prawning industry in Exmouth, and the pearling industry in Broome.
Between 1970 and 1995 Kailis held honorary positions in neurology and genetics at Royal Perth Hospital.
During this time, Kailis introduced a program for predictive testing of Huntington"s disease and was involved in research into motor neuron disease and muscular dystrophy. In 1978, Kailis successfully contained the spread of disease in the family"s pearl farms by insisting on hygienic practices in the processing of the oysters.