Born in 1916 son of Carl Vivian Stephens, he was educated at Melbourne Grammar School and the University of Melbourne and after qualification he was resident medical officer at the Alfred Hospital in 1941. He then joined the RAAF medical service as a Flight-Lieutenant in 1942 and served in New Guinea until 1944, after which he was posted to the United Kingdom until 1946. He worked in England to obtain his Fellowship and in 1951-52 was senior surgical registrar at Southend General Hospital. Returning to Australia he was appointed assistant surgeon to the Royal Melbourne Hospital and to Prince Henry's Hospital in 1952. In 1955 he became assistant urologist at Prince Henry's Hospital and tutor in clinical surgery at the Royal Melbourne Hospital in 1956. In 1960 he was appointed consulting surgeon to Box Hill and District Hospital and a visiting surgeon in the Repatriation Department. A member of the Melbourne Club, he was also a member of the Fly-fishing Club of Great Britain. He died suddenly aged 47 on 15 December 1963 at his mother's home in Armadale, survived by his mother and four sisters.