Geoffrey Walter Edelsten Australian businessman and philanthropist, medical device and drug specialist Date of Birth: 02.05.1943 Country: Australia

Biography of Jeffrey Walter Edelsten

Jeffrey Walter Edelsten is an Australian businessman and philanthropist, specializing in medical equipment and drugs. Born in Carlton, a suburb of Melbourne, Edelsten attended the Mount Scopus Memorial College, the first Jewish co-educational school in Australia. He graduated with distinction in 1960 and went on to study medicine and surgery at the University of Melbourne, completing his degree in 1966.

In the late 1960s, Edelsten developed an interest in music and became a significant figure in Melbourne's music scene. He owned a company called 'Hit Productions' and worked with 'Festival Records'. He claimed authorship of hit songs by 'The Last Straws', including 'I can't stop loving you, baby' and 'A woman of gradual decline'. However, his music career was short-lived, and he focused primarily on his medical practice.

After completing his studies, Edelsten initially worked at the Royal Melbourne Hospital. He later transitioned to general practice and established his first private practice in Walgett, a rural town in Queensland and New South Wales. Obtaining his pilot's license made it easier for him to provide medical services to patients in remote areas.

In 1969, Edelsten bought another practice in a suburb of Sydney, before eventually relocating to Liverpool. In 1971, he co-founded the company 'Preventicare' with his colleague Tom Wenkart. The company offered diagnostic services and electronic medical record storage to doctors throughout Australia, using new American equipment. Although the company initially faced financial difficulties, it eventually succeeded.

Expanding his business, Edelsten became a prominent figure in the medical world. By February 1984, he owned a network of luxurious 24-hour medical centers. His empire grew to include 13 such centers, with 200 doctors seeing approximately 20,000 patients each week.

However, Edelsten's reputation was tarnished in 1990 when he was accused of illegal activities and attempting to hire someone to harm a former patient. A phone recording played a crucial role in the trial, leading to his imprisonment for a year. As a result, he lost his medical license in New South Wales and was later struck off the registers in Victoria.

As of 2008, Edelsten still owned three Australian clinics. Despite the challenges he faced throughout his career, his experience demonstrated that even unconventional approaches, such as operating round-the-clock surgical centers adorned with crystal chandeliers and grand pianos, could generate substantial profits.