Peter Leggat

Dr Peter Leggat AM – Australian Defence Health Service MD, PhD, DrPH, FAFPHM, FFPH RCP(UK), FPHAA, FACAsM, FACTM, FACRRM, FFTM RCPS(Glasg), FFTM FEWM ACTM, FSIA, FACE, FRGS, FRAS, FAICD, Hon. FFPM RCP(UK), Hon. FACTM Dr Leggat joined the Australian Regular Army in 1987. He was posted to various units, including the historic 2 Field Ambulance in Townsville. He has served abroad in Thailand attached to the Australian Embassy, Bangkok, in 1990 and in East Timor in 2000. Colonel Leggat is currently serving in the Army Reserve with 3HSB and is the nominee of the Head, Australian Defence Health Service, on the Board of the Journal of Military and Veterans’ Health (formerly Australian Military Medicine). He is also a reviewer for Military Medicine and holds Editorial Board appointments on several other journals, including Industrial Health (Editor) and Archives of Environmental and Occupational Health (Consulting Editor). His day jobs are Professor and Dean of the College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, Division of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Townsville. For more than 20 years, he has also been a civilian Visiting Medical Officer for various military units, including Lavarack Barracks Medical Centre and 5 Aviation Regiment. Dr Leggat is also Honorary Treasurer and a Past-President of The Australasian College of Tropical Medicine and Dean of Education for the Australasian College of Aerospace Medicine, as well as being the Queensland and National Director of Training, St John Ambulance Australia. A former Fulbright Scholar, he has published more than 450 papers in professional journals and more than 70 chapters in textbooks. He has also edited or co-edited more than 20 monographs and textbooks and presented more than 300 papers at national and international meetings. He was admitted as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 2013 and as an Officer of the Order of St John in 2011.

Articles by Peter Leggat


Framework for a Public Health Emergency Operations Centre

In 2013, the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre Network (EOC-NET) of the World Health Organization (WHO) embarked on a project to develop a framework for public health emergency operation centres (EOCs). This included systematic reviews of public health EOCs (PHEOCs) as well as EOC-related plans and procedures; communication technology and infrastructure; minimum datasets and standards; and training and exercises.1 These were conducted in parallel… Read more »

By Peter Leggat In   Issue Volume 24 No.1 Doi No https://doi-ds.org/doilink/05.2021-11519441/JMVH Vol 24 No 1

Textbook of Adult Emergency Medicine* Peter Cameron, George Jelinek, Anne-Marie Kelly, Anthony F.T. Brown and Mark Little

*4th edn, 1104 pp, paperback with illustrations, ISBN: 978-0-7020-5335-1. Sydney, Churchill Livingstone (an imprint of Elsevier), RRP: $114.74, 2014. The International Federation for Emergency Medicine definition of emergency medicine is provided in the Introduction of the Textbook of Adult Emergency Medicine, which defines the areas as: “a field of practice based on the knowledge and… Read more »

By Peter Leggat In   Issue Volume 23 No. 2 Doi No https://doi-ds.org/doilink/11.2021-82122667/JMVH Vol 23 No 2

Pioneers of Medicine without a Nobel Prize* Gilbert Thompson (Editor)

*Thompson G (Ed). Pioneers of Medicine without a Nobel Prize. London: Imperial College Press, 2014. ISBN 978-1-78326-383-7. Hardback. 296 pp USD128 (also available as softcover and eBook) The Nobel Prize was established in 1901 using a bequest from Alfred Nobel and is probably the most highly regarded international award. Nobel prizes are currently awarded annually… Read more »

By Peter Leggat In   Issue Volume 23 No. 2 Doi No https://doi-ds.org/doilink/11.2021-71863555/JMVH Vol 23 No 2

Epidemiology

Petra Buttner and Reinhold Muller* *1st edn, (xxiv) + 600 pp, paperback with extensive illustrations, Oxford, Oxford University Press, RRP: $83.95, 2011. ISBN: 9780195573893 The field of epidemiology is a science and it remains “one of the many contributors to guiding action” in public health.1 The field is crowded with published books with over 9500… Read more »

By Peter Leggat In   Issue Volume 20 No. 2 Doi No https://doi-ds.org/doilink/11.2021-66877486/JMVH Vol 20 No 2

Toxicology Handbook

Lindsay Murray, Frank Daly, Mark Little and Mike Cadogan* *2nd edn, xii + 529 pp, paperback with illustrations, ISBN: 978-0-7295-3939-5. Sydney, Churchill Livingstone (Imprint of Elsevier), RRP: $69.95, 2010. There are many excellent toxicology textbooks available internationally, including the recently published 9th edition of Goldfrank’s Toxicologic Emergencies.1 These are wonderful resources for those seeking a… Read more »

By Peter Leggat In   Issue Volume 19 No. 4 Doi No https://doi-ds.org/doilink/11.2021-51281821/JMVH Vol 19 No 4

Epidemiology and prevention of tropical diseases of military importance: a special issue

Historically, tropical diseases have remained a significant threat to military operations in tropical zones,1-4 especially in the developing country environment, which are often areas characterized by extremes of poverty, environment, endemic disease, and inadequate public health resources.  In the past decade, military deployments to war-like areas, such as Iraq and Afghanistan, has seen an increased… Read more »

By Peter Leggat In   Issue Volume 19 No. 4 Doi No https://doi-ds.org/doilink/11.2021-74123389/JMVH Vol 19 No 4

Creating Environmental and Occupational Health

Derek R. Smith* *1st edition, xxi+170 pp, paperback with illustrations (available as Hardcover), ISBN 978-1921364129, Sydney, Darlington Press, 2010. Journal publications and their citations have become the common currency of academia, which has led to the development of such measures as the h-index and the m-parameter.1 In the field of environmental and occupational health (EOH),… Read more »

By Peter Leggat In   Issue Volume 19 No. 3 Doi No https://doi-ds.org/doilink/11.2021-34498393/JMVH Vol 19 No 3

General Practice: The Integrative Approach

General Practice: The Integrative Approach is a contemporary colossus of Australian textbooks of general practice. For GPs wanting a wide-ranging general practice reference, then the first edition of the General Practice: The Integrative Approach is one of the most current of the major textbooks and one which is highly relevant to general practice in Australia…. Read more »

By Peter Leggat In   Issue Volume 19 No. 2 Doi No https://doi-ds.org/doilink/11.2021-25214668/JMVH Vol 19 No 2

Therapeutic Guidelines – Antibiotic

*Version 14. xxxiv+445pp, paperback, ISBN 978-0-9804764-7-7. Melbourne, Therapeutic Guidelines Limited, AUD39.00, 2010. Apart from major textbooks of infectious disease, there have been few books published specifically on guidelines related to antibiotics. Therapeutic Guidelines: Antibiotic, part of a collection of 14 in the series of the popular and respected Therapeutic Guidelines series in Australia, is now… Read more »

By Peter Leggat In   Issue Volume 18 No. 4 Doi No https://doi-ds.org/doilink/11.2021-26297394/JMVH Vol 18 No 4

Australian Venomous Creatures First Aid Guide

Rachel Jensen, Bill Nimorakiotakis, Tim Carroll and Kenneth Winkel* *1st edn, (ii) + 18 pp, paperback compendium with extensive illustrations, Parkville, CSL Limited, RRP: $9.95, 2007. Australia is home to some of the  world’s most venomous snakes, jellyfish, spiders and other creatures, whose venomous properties are described elsewhere.1 Many readers will recall the first publication… Read more »

By Peter Leggat In   Issue Volume 18 No. 4 Doi No https://doi-ds.org/doilink/11.2021-16235425/JMVH Vol 18 No 4

Tropical Diseases of Military Importance: A Centennial Perspective

Abstract Vector-borne diseases stand out as major concerns for military deployments. Of particular concern are malaria, arboviral diseases and, more recently, leishmaniasis. Vaccine preventable diseases also remain important globally. Other common problems, for example diarrhoeal disease and non-infectious hazards, such as trauma, also need to be addressed. Disclaimer: The author does not necessarily represent the… Read more »

By Peter Leggat In   Issue Volume 18 No. 4 Doi No https://doi-ds.org/doilink/11.2021-31321533/JMVH Vol 18 No 4

Therapeutic Guidelines: Cardiovascular

*Version 5. xxii+243pp, paperback, ISBN 978-0-9804764-1-5. Melbourne, Therapeutic Guidelines Limited, AUD39.00, 2008. Apart from textbooks, there have been few handbooks published specifically on cardiovascular guidelines. This fifth Version of Therapeutic Guidelines: Cardiovascular, part of a collection of 14 in the series of the popular and respected Therapeutic Guidelines series in Australia, is a major step… Read more »

By Peter Leggat In   Issue Volume 18 No. 3 Doi No https://doi-ds.org/doilink/11.2021-65478737/JMVH Vol 18 No 3

Are we ready? Public health since 9/11

Following the terrorist attacks of 9/11 in 2001 and the possibility of bioterrorism following the anthrax episode a month later, the engagement of public health in the global counteroffensive against terrorism was probably for the first time in many decades central to the response in the threats facing the United States of America (US). While… Read more »

By Peter Leggat In   Issue Volume 18 No. 3 Doi No https://doi-ds.org/doilink/03.2023-33766723/JMVH Vol 18 No 3

Essential Public Health: Theory and Practice

Edited by Stephen Gillan, Jan Yates and Padmanabhan Badrinath *1st edn. xiii +335 pp, paperback with illustrations and CD,  ISBN 978-0-521-68983-0. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, RRP AUD97.00, 2007 Public health has done more than any other discipline to address global health issues and improve the standard of living and life expectancy, especially during the past… Read more »

By Peter Leggat In   Issue Volume 18 No. 2 Doi No https://doi-ds.org/doilink/11.2021-84196777/JMVH Vol 18 No 2

Therapeutic Guidelines: Psychotropic

Psychotropic Expert Group. *Version 6. xxv+325pp, paperback, ISBN 978-0-9804764-2-2. Melbourne, Therapeutic Guidelines Limited, AUD39.00, 2008. Apart from major textbooks, there have been few handbooks published specifically on psychotropic guidelines. This sixth version of Therapeutic Guidelines: Psychotropic, part of a collection of 14 in the series of the popular and respected Therapeutic Guidelines series in Australia,… Read more »

By Peter Leggat In   Issue Volume 18 No. 2 Doi No https://doi-ds.org/doilink/11.2021-27925835/JMVH Vol 18 No 2

Cases in Pre-hospital and Retrieval Medicine

Daniel Ellis and Matthew Hooper *1st edition 2010, 286 pages, paperback with illustrations, ISBN 978-0-7295-3848-8. Churchill Livingstone, Elsevier.Australia. RRP AUD70.00. Pre-hospital and retrieval medicine is an essential component of the Emergency Medical System, critically so in Australia where geographical isolation often restricts patient access to specialised medical care. Retrieval medicine provides not only transport but… Read more »

By Peter Leggat In   Issue Volume 18 No. 2 Doi No https://doi-ds.org/doilink/11.2021-51443824/JMVH Vol 18 No 2

Therapeutic guidelines: Dermatology*

Dermatology Expert Group. *Version 3. xxiii+335pp, paperback, ISBN 978-0-9804764-3-9. Melbourne, Therapeutic Guidelines Limited, AUD39.00, 2009. Apart from textbooks, including one recently received in this journal,1 there have been few handbooks published specifically on guidelines related to Dermatology. This third Version of Therapeutic Guidelines: Dermatology, part of a collection of 14 in the series of the… Read more »

By Peter Leggat In   Issue Volume 17 No. 4 Doi No https://doi-ds.org/doilink/11.2021-64721187/JMVH Vol 17 No 4

Postgraduate education for health professionals working in Defence

n 2007-2008, Defence Health Service (DHS) personnel and the growing band of contracted health providers cared for 53,140 permanent Australian Defence Force (ADF) members and 24,885 reserve ADF members1, not including the initial care of families accompanying members deployed abroad and other eligible civilians. Health providers in the Defence setting include medical assistants with various… Read more »

By Isaac Seidl , Peter Aitken and Peter Leggat In   Issue Volume 17 No. 4 Doi No https://doi-ds.org/doilink/10.2022-12616929/JMVH Vol 17 No 4

Essential Public Health: Theory and Practice

Edited by Stephen Gillan, Jan Yates and Padmanabhan Badrinath *1st edn. xiii +335 pp, paperback with illustrations and CD, ISBN 978-0-521-68983-0. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, RRP AUD97.00, 2007 Public health has done more than any other discipline to address global health issues and improve the standard of living and life expectancy, especially during the past… Read more »

By Peter Leggat In   Issue Volume 17 No. 3 Doi No https://doi-ds.org/doilink/11.2021-49642971/JMVH Vol 17 No 3

John Murtagh’s General Practice Companion Handbook

*4th edn, xxxviii + 441 pp, paperback (plastic cover) with illustrations, ISBN13: 978-007013628-1, Sydney, McGraw Hill, RRP: AUD150, 2007 (Reprinted 2008). In 2006-2007, the Australian Government estimated that there were 25,564 general practitioners (GPs) in the country.1 There were would be few GPs who did not have a textbook by John Murtagh in their practice… Read more »

By Peter Leggat In   Issue Volume 17 No. 1 Doi No https://doi-ds.org/doilink/05.2023-16829184/JMVH Vol 17 No 1

CDC Health Information for International Travel 2008

Edited by Paul M Arguin, Phyllis E Kozarsky and Christie Reed 2008 Edition (xiv) + 627 pp. Paperback, GBP19, ISBN 978-0-323-04885-9, Atlanta, USA, Elsevier Mosby, 2008 Travel medicine is an area that needs to be informed by accurate information concerning the epidemiology, management and prevention of disease and injury amongst travellers. It is a discipline… Read more »

By Peter Leggat In   Issue Volume 17 No. 1 Doi No https://doi-ds.org/doilink/11.2021-87876672/JMVH Vol 17 No 1

Marshall and Ruedy’s On Call: Principals and Protocols

Mike Cadogan, Anthony FT Brown and Antonio Celenza* *1st edn, xvi + 576 pp, paperback with illustrations, ISBN 978-0-7295-3803-9. Sydney, Saunders (Imprint of Elsevier), RRP: $63.50, 2007. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare define ‘on call’ as “the number of hours in a week that a medical practitioner is required to be available to… Read more »

By Peter Leggat In   Issue Volume 16 No. 4 Doi No https://doi-ds.org/doilink/11.2021-61322687/JMVH Vol 16 No 4