Dr. Peter Jepson-Young
Encyclopedia
Dr. Peter Jepson-Young, better known as simply Dr. Peter, was a medical doctor in Vancouver
, British Columbia
, Canada
who promoted AIDS
and HIV
awareness and education in the early 1990s through his regular segment on CBC Television
news broadcasts called “The Dr. Peter Diaries”. In this series, Dr. Peter documented his own experiences as a person with AIDS. Dr. Peter used honesty, pathos and humour to share his experience. The documentary was also nominated for an Academy Award.
in 1957 and raised in Nanaimo, and North Vancouver, British Columbia
. After graduation in 1975 from Delbrook Senior Secondary School
in North Vancouver
, he attended medical school
at the University of British Columbia
in the 1980s and did his residency in Ottawa
, Ontario
. In 1985, he was diagnosed with AIDS, soon after completing his medical training.
until after his death. The Diaries did much to educate the general public about AIDS and HIV and put a human face on the disease. Dr. Peter continued the series through 111 episodes,spanning two years from September 1990 up to his death in November 1992.
, Canada, also known as The Dr. Peter Centre, an assisted-living residence and health centre dedicated to helping those with HIV and AIDS.
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
who promoted AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
and HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
awareness and education in the early 1990s through his regular segment on CBC Television
CBC Television
CBC Television is a Canadian television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster.Although the CBC is supported by public funding, the television network supplements this funding with commercial advertising revenue, in contrast to CBC Radio which are...
news broadcasts called “The Dr. Peter Diaries”. In this series, Dr. Peter documented his own experiences as a person with AIDS. Dr. Peter used honesty, pathos and humour to share his experience. The documentary was also nominated for an Academy Award.
Background
Dr. Peter was born in New Westminster, British ColumbiaBritish Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
in 1957 and raised in Nanaimo, and North Vancouver, British Columbia
North Vancouver, British Columbia
There are two municipalities in the Greater Vancouver region of British Columbia, Canada, that use the name North Vancouver. These are:*The City of North Vancouver...
. After graduation in 1975 from Delbrook Senior Secondary School
Delbrook Senior Secondary School
Delbrook Senior Secondary was a public high school from 1957 to 1977 in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, part of School District 44 North Vancouver.- History :...
in North Vancouver
North Vancouver, British Columbia
There are two municipalities in the Greater Vancouver region of British Columbia, Canada, that use the name North Vancouver. These are:*The City of North Vancouver...
, he attended medical school
Medical school
A medical school is a tertiary educational institution—or part of such an institution—that teaches medicine. Degree programs offered at medical schools often include Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Bachelor/Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Philosophy, master's degree, or other post-secondary...
at the University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
in the 1980s and did his residency in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. In 1985, he was diagnosed with AIDS, soon after completing his medical training.
The Dr. Peter Diaries
By 1989 Jepson-Young was unable to continue his medical practice due to his failing health. Turning his attention to AIDS education, in 1990 Jepson-Young began the “Dr. Peter Diaries” with five episodes airing on the CBC Early Evening News . Through these short segments, in which he was only referred to as “Dr. Peter”, he shared his experiences with the general public. Most viewers were not aware of his surnameSurname
A surname is a name added to a given name and is part of a personal name. In many cases, a surname is a family name. Many dictionaries define "surname" as a synonym of "family name"...
until after his death. The Diaries did much to educate the general public about AIDS and HIV and put a human face on the disease. Dr. Peter continued the series through 111 episodes,spanning two years from September 1990 up to his death in November 1992.
Foundation and Dr. Peter Centre
Shortly before his death, Jepson-Young established the Dr. Peter AIDS Foundation. The Foundation established the The Dr. Peter AIDS Foundation Day Centre, in VancouverVancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, Canada, also known as The Dr. Peter Centre, an assisted-living residence and health centre dedicated to helping those with HIV and AIDS.