Tuesday June 9, 2026
Eastern Health doctor, Dov Degen has been recognised with a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for his service to medicine and mental health support.
The award was part of the 2026 Kings Birthday honours and is outstanding recognition for his accomplished medical career and his commitment to destigmatising mental health issues.
As a doctor living with bipolar disorder, Dr. Degen openly shares his lived experience across public events, hospital networks and social media platforms to challenge misconceptions about mental illness within healthcare and broader society. This places him in a unique position to speak from both professional and personal perspectives – as a physician caring for patients and as a patient navigating a serious mental health condition.
As a dual-trained nephrologist and general physician, Dr. Degen has worked across public and private health systems, mentored medical students and junior doctors, contributed to medical education, and delivered healthcare in regional and remote communities.