Dr Neil Westphalen

Dr Neil Westphalen graduated from Adelaide University in 1985 and joined the RAN in 1987. He is a RAN Staff Course graduate and a Fellow of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, the Australasian Faculty of Occupational and Environmental Medicine and the Australasian College of Aerospace Medicine. He also holds a Diploma of Aviation Medicine and a Master of Public Health. His seagoing service includes HMA Ships Swan, Stalwart, Success, Sydney, Perth and Choules. Deployments include DAMASK VII, RIMPAC 96, TANAGER, RELEX II, GEMSBOK, TALISMAN SABRE 07, RENDERSAFE 14, SEA RAIDER 15, KAKADU 16 and SEA HORIZON 17. His service ashore includes clinical roles at Cerberus, Penguin, Kuttabul, Albatross and Stirling, and staff positions as J07 (Director Health) at the then HQAST, Director Navy Occupational and Environmental Health, Director of Navy Health, Joint Health Command SO1 MEC Advisory and Review Services and Fleet Medical Officer (2013-2016). Commander Westphalen transferred to the Active Reserve in July 2016.

Articles by Dr Neil Westphalen


JMVH Article: ‘Dual loyalty and the Medical Profession for Australian Defence Force Medical Officers’

The October 2022 JMVH article regarding Australian Defence Force (ADF) medical officers’ dual loyalty to military patients and commanders1 is important because, aside from their conduct in extreme circumstances, it also pertains to how they perform their day-to-day clinical and other duties. While commending the author’s work to that end, it requires further elaboration. Two ‘loyalties’…… Read more »

By Dr Neil Westphalen In   Issue Volume 33 Number 3 Doi No https://doi-ds.org/doilink/07.2025-27151441/JMVH

Australian Defence Force Academy Lecture Theatre Six First session: the Fifth Annual ADF Medical Officer Orientation Course 0910, Monday 7 July 2031

Author’s Note This article is the last of a series regarding the role of occupational and environmental medicine in the ADF.1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 These articles and a recent Productivity Commission inquiry11 describe why high  workplace illness and injury rates confirm the need to improve the management of hazards associated with ADF workplaces, with better emphasis on prevention…. Read more »

By Dr Neil Westphalen In   Issue Volume 30 No. 1 Doi No https://doi-ds.org/doilink/03.2022-25998342/JMVH Vol 30 No 1

Health Promotion in the Australian Defence Force

N Westphalen Introduction This article follows previous papers by the author regarding occupational and environmental medicine in the ADF.1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 These articles, as well as a recent Productivity Commission inquiry,9 indicate that high workplace illness and injury rates confirm the need to improve the management of hazards associated with ADF workplaces, with better emphasis on prevention…. Read more »

By Dr Neil Westphalen In   Issue Volume 29 No. 1 Doi No https://doi-ds.org/doilink/05.2021-18264486/JMVH Vol 29 No 1

Viking Warfare, Ships and Medicine

N Westphalen Introduction Previous articles describe the development from prehistory to the end of the Roman Empire, of a cycle whereby increasing trade necessitated larger and more efficient ships to transport merchandise and better weapons to defend or attack them; both of which facilitated more trading opportunities. It was not until the 18th century that… Read more »

By Dr Neil Westphalen In   Issue Volume 28 No. 4 Doi No https://doi-ds.org/doilink/05.2021-24145163/JMVH Vol 28 No 4