Joint Health Command

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ADF Health 2011 - Volume 12 Number 1

Editorial

ADF Health welcomes the appointment of RADM Robyn Walker AM as Joint Health Commander and AVM Hugh Bartholomeusz OAM as Surgeon General Defence Health Reserves

This edition of ADF Health marks the end of 2 most influential appointments: MAJGEN Paul Alexander AO, Joint Health Commander and MAJGEN Jeff Rosenfeld AM Surgeon General (Reserves). The Editorial Board plays tribute to these two senior officers who have richly contributed to JHC. The Journal continues to be well supported by prospective authors however a decision has been taken to encourage younger authors to write for the Journal. The new Sir William Williams prize will be awarded annually from 2012 to the most promising author of Major equivalent and below. You will find in the centerfold a short questionnaire which surveys again readership opinion. This is an important inquiry which will help to shape future Journals. I encourage you to participate and so enter a draw for a substantial cash prize.

Contained in this Journal are papers on fluid replacement (Reade et al), the new Medical Employment Classification introduced on July 1, 2011 (Sponberg et al), AME practical advice (Greig), a tropical medicine quiz (Leggatt), a personal viewpoint on changes necessary for deployed mental health teams (Waghorn), a review article on headache in the ADF (Beran), the effects of RADHAZ on fertility (Robson), and an inspiring short report on ophthalmic outreach assistance to Indonesia by the John Fawcett Foundation. A health assessment of risks in the Townsville Training Area has been reported in some detail. There is a historical perspective on Naval surgeons and their heritage (Tait). O’Connor has offered a personal view on regulating and improving the performance of ADF medical officers. Both MAJGEN Alexander and MAJGEN Rosenfeld have contributed some parting observations on the state of Joint Health Command. LTCOL Reade has offered some vision for the new Chair of Military Medicine and Surgery.

ADF Health welcomes the announced appointments of RADM Robyn Walker AM as Joint Health Commander and AVM Hugh Bartholomeusz OAM as Surgeon General Defence Health Reserves with effect December 2011.

I wish to acknowledge the valuable assistance I have received from other members of the Editorial Board: in particular MAJ Mike Tyquin, AVM Bruce Short (Ret’d), LCDR Steve Rayner, Prof Dennis Shanks, GPCAPT Sandy McFarlane, GPCAPT Dave Scott, COL Tony Delaney, RADM Graeme Shirtley, LCDR Stuart Lowe as well as the staff of Adbourne Publishing. I thank all those authors who have taken the time to carefully prepare papers for publication in this edition.

Readers are strongly encouraged to contribute relevant articles for future editions.

Mike O’Connor
Editor, ADF Health

CAPTAIN Mike O’Connor AM RANR CAPTAIN Mike O’Connor AM RANR
MD DCH DDU FRCOG FRANZCOG MHL FACLM

Captain O’Connor is the current Editor of ADF Health and a practising obstetrician and gynaecologist. His role in Navy is as the Surgical Professional Liaison Officer and he is responsible for approximately 30 Navy surgeons. CAPT O’Connor is Chairman of the Chapter of Military Obstetrics and Gynaecology in the RANZCOG and conducts annual courses for Deploying Surgeons in Emergency Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Over 100 health personnel from all 3 Services have now completed that course. His original research was in perinatal asphyxia but he now is involved in legal research on medical complicity in torture. He also has extensive experience in medico legal work as an expert witness. He currently acts as Chairman of the Patient Care Review Committee at St George Private Hospital in Sydney.