Surgeon general (Denmark)

{{Short description|Professional healthcare advisor of the Danish military health jurisdiction}}

{{Infobox official post

| post = Surgeon General

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| native_name = {{native name|da|Generallæge}}

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| incumbent = Susanne Bach Lausten

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| incumbentsince = 28 April 2023

| department = Armed Forces Medical Command

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| type = Surgeon general

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| formation = {{start date and age|21 April 1806}}

| first = {{ill|Nicolaus Tønder|da}}

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The Surgeon General ({{langx|da|Generallæge|lit=General doctor}}) is the highest-ranking medical officer of the Danish Defence. Until 2023, the role of administrative leadership of the Armed Forces Medical Command was also Surgeon General.

History

Until the begning of the 19th century, the chief surgeon of the army was a temporary position established only in times of conflict. However, there was an increased wish to have a permanent position to plan, supervise and be available to the higher command authorities. As such the {{lang|da|Stabskirurg}} ({{translation|Staff surgeon}}) was established on 21 April 1806, with the rank of major.{{sfn|Saugman|1955|pp=31–32}}

In 1838, the title was changed to the {{lang|da|Stabslæge}} ({{translation|Staff doctor}}), which was elevated to colonel in 1848.{{sfn|Saugman|1955|p=82}} The position was however demoted back to major by 1852.{{sfn|Saugman|1955|p=127}} The rank was re-elevated to colonel on 3 January 1861.{{sfn|Saugman|1955|p=132}}

Following the Army law of 1867, the army and navy staff doctors were collected into a unified corps.{{sfn|Saugman|1955|p=174}} The unified corps was spilt again in 1880, as it was decided that the naval medical corps be disbanded.{{sfn|Saugman|1955|p=189}}

On 13 April 1894, the rank was elevated to major general.{{sfn|Saugman|1955|p=198}}

On 1 November 1951, the Army Medical Corps ({{lang|da|Hærens Lægekorps}}) and the Naval Medical Corps ({{lang|da|Marinens Lægekorps}}) were collected into the joint Defence Medical Corps ({{lang|da|Forsvarets Lægekorps}}), which also included the newly formed air force. Following the adoption of the brigade general rank in 1983, the position was made a brigade general.

By 1991, the name was changed to Defence Health Service ({{lang|da|Forsvarets Sundhedstjeneste}}). This merged with the ({{lang|da|Forsvarets Sanitetsskole}}) in 2002.{{cite web |last1=Hillingsø |first1=Kjeld |last2=Nielsen |first2=Kaj V. |title=Forsvarets Sundhedstjeneste |url=https://lex.dk/Forsvarets_Sundhedstjeneste |website=Lex |access-date=16 March 2025 |language=da |date=30 January 2009}}

In 2018, the name was changed to Medical Command ({{lang|da|Forsvarets Sanitetskommando}}).

With increased responsibility of the Forsvarets Sanitetskommando, the leadership role was split in two, in April 2023. One administrator and one healthcare advisor.

List of officeholders

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" ! rowspan=2\| {{Abbr\|No.\|Number}} ! rowspan=2\| Portrait ! rowspan=2\| Name {{small\|(born–died)}} ! colspan=3\| Term of office ! rowspan=2\| {{Abbr\|Ref.\|Refences}}
Took office ! Left office ! Time in office
colspan=7\| Army staff surgeon {{nobold\|({{lang\|da\|Stabskirurg ved Landetaten}})}}
1 \| 80px \| {{ill\|Nicolaus Tønder\|da}} {{small\|(1764–1832)}} \| 21 April 1806 \| 5 January 1832 † \| {{ayd\|1806\|04\|21\|1832\|01\|05}} \| {{sfn\|Mygind\|1999\|p=224}}{{sfn\|Saugman\|1955\|p=31}}
2 \| 80px \| Johann Christian Wilhelm Wendt {{small\|(1778–1838)}} \| 5 February 1832 \| 4 March 1838 † \| {{ayd\|1832\|02\|05\|1838\|03\|04}} \| {{sfn\|Mygind\|1999\|p=224}}
colspan=7\| Army staff physician {{nobold\|({{lang\|da\|Stabslæge for Hæren}})}}
3 \| 80px \| Johan Conrad Müller {{small\|(1789–1869)}} \| 10 March 1838 \| 28 September 1863 \| {{ayd\|1838\|03\|04\|1863\|09\|28}} \| {{sfn\|Richter\|1977b\|p=70}}
4 \| 80px \| Michael Djørup {{small\|(1803–1876)}} \| 28 September 1863 \| 1867 \| {{age in years\|1863\|1867}} years \|{{cite web \|last1=Norrie \|first1=Gordon \|title=Michael Djørup \|url=https://biografiskleksikon.lex.dk/Michael_Dj%C3%B8rup \|website=Lex.dk \|access-date=7 September 2024 \|language=da \|date=17 July 2011}}
colspan=7\| Staff Physician and Chief of the Joint Army and Navy Medical Corps {{nobold\|({{lang\|da\|Stabslæge og Chef for det for Hæren og Flaaden fælles Lægekorps}})}}
4 \| 80px \| Michael Djørup {{small\|(1803–1876)}} \| 1867 \| 13 August 1873 \| {{age in years\|1867\|1873}} years \|
5 \| 80px \| Nota Salomon {{small\|(1823–1885)}} \| 31 August 1873 \| 1 November 1880 \| {{ayd\|1873\|08\|31\|1880\|11\|01}} \| {{sfn\|Richter\|1977b\|p=137}}{{sfn\|Saugman\|1955\|p=189}}
colspan=7\| Army staff physician {{nobold\|({{lang\|da\|Stabslæge for Hæren}})}}
5 \| 80px \| Oberst Nota Salomon {{small\|(1823–1885)}} \| 1 November 1880 \| 20 March 1885 † \| {{ayd\|1880\|11\|01\|1885\|03\|20}} \| {{sfn\|Richter\|1977b\|p=137}}{{cite web \|title=Johan Møller \|url=http://denstoredanske.dk/Dansk_Biografisk_Leksikon/Sundhed/L%C3%A6ge/Johan_M%C3%B8ller \|accessdate=14 May 2019 \|language=da}}
6 \| 80px \| Generalmajor Johan Christian Møller {{small\|(1835–1902)}} \| 20 March 1885 \| 25 April 1902 † \| {{ayd\|1885\|03\|20\|1902\|04\|25}} \|{{sfn\|Saugman\|1955\|p=218}}
7 \| 80px \| Generalmajor Hieronymus Laub {{small\|(1838–1910)}} \| 25 April 1902 \| 1908 \| {{age in years\|1902\|1908}} years \|{{cite book \|title=Kraks Blå Bog \|date=1910 \|publisher=Project Runeberg \|page=255 \|url=https://runeberg.org/blaabog/1910/0255.html \|access-date=16 March 2025 \|language=da \|chapter=Laub Hieronymus}}{{sfn\|Saugman\|1955\|p=218}}
8 \| 80px \| Generalmajor Johan Frederik Hempel {{small\|(1848–1911)}} \| 1908 \| 8 March 1911 † \| {{age in years\|1908\|1911}} years \|{{cite web \|title=Chr. F. Hempel \|url=http://denstoredanske.dk/Dansk_Biografisk_Leksikon/Sundhed/L%C3%A6ge/Chr._F._Hempel \|accessdate=14 May 2019 \|language=da}}
9 \| 80px \| Generalmajor Frederik Ferdinand Biering {{small\|(1849–1918)}} \| 8 March 1911 \| 1916 \| {{age in years\|1911\|1916}} years \| {{sfn\|Saugman\|1955\|p=218}}
10 \| 80px \| Generalmajor Johan Ammentorp {{small\|(1860–1931)}} \| 1916 \| 1930 \| {{age in years\|1916\|1930}} years \|{{cite web \|title=Johan Ammentorp \|url=http://denstoredanske.dk/Dansk_Biografisk_Leksikon/Sundhed/L%C3%A6ge/Johan_Ammentorp \|accessdate=14 May 2019 \|language=da}}
11 \| 80px \| Generalmajor Johan Peter Skot-Hansen {{small\|(1870–1935)}} \| 1930 \| 29 October 1935 † \| {{age in years\|1930\|1935}} years \| {{sfn\|Saugman\|1955\|p=248}}
12 \| 80px \| Generalmajor Emanuel Andreas Gottfred Saugmann {{small\|(1878–1962)}} \| October 1935 \| {{circa\|1948}} \| {{age in years\|1935\|1948}} years \|
13 \| 80px \| Generalmajor Carl Rudolph Hakon Fasting-Hansen {{small\|(1893–1981)}} \| {{circa\|1949}} \| 1963 \| {{age in years\|1949\|1963}} years \|
14 \| 80px \| Generalmajor Mogens Winge {{small\|(?–?)}} \| December 1963 \| December 1972 \| {{age in years\|1963\|12\|1\|1972\|12\|1}} years \|{{cite journal \|editor1-last=Dorph-Petersen \|editor1-first=Kaj \|title=Personalia \|journal=Herlovianeren \|date=1963 \|volume=41 \|issue=3 \|page=32 \|url=https://skolehistorie.dk/709468.pdf \|access-date=17 September 2024 \|location=Copenhagen \|language=da}}{{cite journal \|editor1-last=Dorph-Petersen \|editor1-first=Kaj \|title=Personalia \|journal=Herlovianeren \|date=1972 \|volume=50 \|issue=3 \|page=4 \|url=https://skolehistorie.dk/709507.pdf \|access-date=17 September 2024 \|location=Copenhagen \|language=da}}
15 \| 80px \| Generalmajor Svend Trier {{small\|(1923–2020)}} \| 1973 \| 1988 \| {{age in years\|1973\|1988}} years \|{{cite web \|title=Den gamle generallæge kører stadig i højt gear \|url=https://stiften.dk/Portraet/Den-gamle-generallaege-koerer-stadig-i-hoejt-gear/artikel/178562 \|accessdate=18 July 2019 \|language=da}}{{cite web \|last1=Skjøth \|first1=Mogens \|title=Mindeord: Generallæge med en fortid i modstandskampen \|url=https://stiften.dk/navne/mindeord-generallaege-med-en-fortid-i-modstandskampen \|website=Århus Stiftstidende \|access-date=8 September 2024 \|language=da \|date=25 January 2020}}
16 \| 80px \| Brigadegeneral Knud Jessen () {{small\|(1938–2014)}} \| 1988 \| 1 April 1998 \| {{age in years\|1988\|1998}} years \|{{cite web \|last1=Klokker \|first1=Mads \|last2=Darre \|first2=Erik Michael \|last3=Jørgensen \|first3=Sven Philip \|title=Knud Jessen \|url=https://ugeskriftet.dk/navne/mindeord/knud-jessen-1 \|website=Ugeskrift for Læger \|access-date=8 September 2024 \|language=da}}
17 \| 80px \| Brigadegeneral Hans-Michael Jelsdorf {{small\|(1946–)}} \| 1 April 1998 \| 2006 \| {{age in years\|1998\|2006}} years \|
18 \| 80px \| Brigadegeneral Erik Michael Darre {{small\|(born 1953)}} \| 2006 \| 2013 \| {{age in years\|2006\|2013}} years \|
19 \| 80px \| Brigadegeneral Søren Worm-Petersen {{small\|(–)}} \| 2013 \| 28 April 2017 \| {{age in years\|2013\|2017}} years \|
20 \| 80px \| Brigadegeneral Sten Hulgaard {{small\|(–)}} \| 28 April 2017 \| 28 April 2023 \| {{ayd\|2017\|04\|28\|2023\|04\|28}} \|{{cite web \|title=Ny chef for FSU \|url=https://www2.forsvaret.dk/omos/organisation/sundhedstjeneste/nyheder/Pages/NychefforFSU.aspx \|accessdate=14 May 2019 \|language=da \|date=10 May 2017}}
21 \| 80px \| Brigadegeneral Susanne Bach Lausten {{small\|(born 1961)}} \| 28 April 2023 \| Incumbent \| {{ayd\|2023\|04\|28}} \|{{cite web \|title=Generallæge og myndighedschef udnævnes og indgår historisk samarbejde \|url=https://www.forsvaret.dk/da/nyheder/2023/ny-generallage-og-myndighedschef/ \|website=Forsvaret \|access-date=8 September 2024 \|language=da \|date=29 April 2024}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

! rowspan=2| {{Abbr|No.|Number}}

! rowspan=2| Portrait

! rowspan=2| Name
{{small|(born–died)}}

! colspan=3| Term of office

! rowspan=2| {{Abbr|Ref.|Refences}}

Took office

! Left office

! Time in office

colspan=7| Army staff surgeon
{{nobold|({{lang|da|Stabskirurg ved Landetaten}})}}

Surgeon general (Denmark)

History

List of officeholders

References

=Bibliography=