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Once again, a Hungarian military doctor has been appointed to one of NATO’s highest medical leadership positions. Starting on June 21, Dr. Péter Vekszler will take on the challenge of serving as Chief Medical Officer at the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) for the next three years. During his term of office, Dr. Vekszler will hold the rank of brigadier general, reports Honvedelem.hu.
In this position, the Hungarian military doctor will also serve as the senior advisor on health issues to the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR). The appointment of Dr. Vekszler for the duration of foreign service was given to the military doctor by Lieutenant General Ferenc Kajári, Deputy Chief of the Hungarian Defense Staff.
Brigadier General Dr. Péter Vekszler. Photo: Honvedelem.hu
As head of NATO’s Joint Medical Division (JMED) and health advisor, he will be responsible for planning, coordinating, and evaluating the alliance’s health capabilities, as well as liaising with the military health organizations of allied nations.
His appointment is a significant professional recognition for the Hungarian Defense Forces’ medical service and another example of Hungarian soldiers holding high-level NATO positions.
The Joint Medical Division was officially established in 1994, following a decision by the NATO Military Committee. As the North Atlantic Alliance increasingly focused on joint operations and multinational missions, coordinated medical support was needed. The purpose of JMED is to ensure medical interoperability between member states, develop common medical standards, and advise the Military Committee on military medical matters.
Photo: Honvedelem.hu
Hungary and Germany have been alternating the position of Chief Medical Officer on a three-year rotation basis since 2012.
While Hungary provides the Chief Medical Officer for the command in Belgium, the NATO Center of Excellence for Military Medicine, based in Budapest, is headed by a German general, and vice versa.
Previously, Brigadier General István Kopcsó (2012–2015) and Brigadier General László Fazekas (2019–2022) served in Mons, and now Brigadier General Lale Bartoscheck is handing over the position to Dr. Péter Vekszler.
Colonel Dr. Péter Vekszler has held the position of Deputy Commander for International Affairs at the Hungarian Defense Forces Medical Center since January 2023. He obtained his general medical degree in 1994, from the Faculty of General Medicine at Semmelweis University of Medicine, then passed his specialist exams in surgery in 1999, and traumatology in 2001.
Photo: Honvedelem.hu
He has served abroad on several occasions: he was a member of the first Hungarian military medical contingent to arrive in Afghanistan in 2003, and returned three more times in various positions in the following years.
He also served in the peacekeeping mission in Kosovo as chief physician at the Role 1 medical center.
He has also successfully held several international positions: in Naples, he was responsible for training, practical and evaluation tasks at the Joint Force Command Naples (JFCNP), and then served as training manager at the NATO Center of Excellence for Military Medicine.
He is credited with introducing several international-level specialized surgical training programs to Hungary. These programs are based on battlefield experience and aim to provide high-level advanced training for surgeons and anesthesiologists prepared to treat seriously injured patients on the battlefield.
Via Honvedelem.hu, Featured image: Honvedelem.hu