Kevin Patterson
Encyclopedia
Kevin Patterson is a Canadian
medical doctor and writer. His short story collection, Country of Cold, won the Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction Prize
in 2003. His latest book, Outside the Wire: The War in Afghanistan in the Words of its Participants, published in 2008, is a collection of first-hand accounts written by soldiers, doctors and aid workers on the front lines of Canada’s war in Afghanistan
.
Patterson was born on December 27, 1964 in Kapuskasing, Ontario
but grew up in Selkirk
, Manitoba
. He put himself through medical school at the University of Manitoba
in Winnipeg
by enlisting in the Canadian army. When his service was up, he worked as a doctor in the Arctic
and on the coast of British Columbia
while pursuing his MFA in creative writing at the University of British Columbia
. In 1999, Patterson published The Water in Between, a travel memoir of his sailing expedition in the Pacific Ocean
.
His first novel, Consumption, was published in September 2006 in Canada. He co-edited Outside the Wire: The War in Afghanistan in the Words of its Participants, which was released in January 2008.
Patterson lives on Saltspring Island in British Columbia.
in the winter of 2007, was published in the July-August issue of Mother Jones
magazine in the U.S. The article created news headlines in Canada because of Patterson's graphic description of the dying moments of Nova Scotia
-born soldier Kevin Megeney.
Although Megeney's name had previously been published in Canadian media, the Canadian Department of National Defence
initiated a military police
investigation into Patterson's conduct to determine whether or not he breached doctor-patient confidentiality. He was later cleared when the DND received confirmation from Megeney's mother that she had consented to the publication of the article. However, in January 2009 he was officially censured by the B.C. College of Physicians and Surgeons and ordered to pay $5,000 in costs.
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...
medical doctor and writer. His short story collection, Country of Cold, won the Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction Prize
Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction Prize
The Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction Prize is a Canadian literary award presented by Rogers Communications and the Writers' Trust of Canada after an annual juried competition between publishers who submit entries....
in 2003. His latest book, Outside the Wire: The War in Afghanistan in the Words of its Participants, published in 2008, is a collection of first-hand accounts written by soldiers, doctors and aid workers on the front lines of Canada’s war in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
.
Patterson was born on December 27, 1964 in Kapuskasing, 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....
but grew up in Selkirk
Selkirk, Manitoba
Selkirk is a city in the western Canadian province of Manitoba, located about 22 km northeast of the provincial capital Winnipeg on the Red River, near . As of the 2006 census, Selkirk had a population of 9,515....
, Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
. He put himself through medical school at the University of Manitoba
University of Manitoba
The University of Manitoba , in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, is the largest university in the province of Manitoba. It is Manitoba's most comprehensive and only research-intensive post-secondary educational institution. It was founded in 1877, making it Western Canada’s first university. It placed...
in Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
by enlisting in the Canadian army. When his service was up, he worked as a doctor in the Arctic
Arctic
The Arctic is a region located at the northern-most part of the Earth. The Arctic consists of the Arctic Ocean and parts of Canada, Russia, Greenland, the United States, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland. The Arctic region consists of a vast, ice-covered ocean, surrounded by treeless permafrost...
and on the coast of 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...
while pursuing his MFA in creative writing 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 1999, Patterson published The Water in Between, a travel memoir of his sailing expedition in the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
.
His first novel, Consumption, was published in September 2006 in Canada. He co-edited Outside the Wire: The War in Afghanistan in the Words of its Participants, which was released in January 2008.
Patterson lives on Saltspring Island in British Columbia.
Talk to Me Like My Father
"Talk to Me Like My Father", Patterson's account of spending six weeks as a doctor with NATO forces in AfghanistanAfghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
in the winter of 2007, was published in the July-August issue of Mother Jones
Mother Jones (magazine)
Mother Jones is an American independent news organization, featuring investigative and breaking news reporting on politics, the environment, human rights, and culture. Mother Jones has been nominated for 23 National Magazine Awards and has won six times, including for General Excellence in 2001,...
magazine in the U.S. The article created news headlines in Canada because of Patterson's graphic description of the dying moments of Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
-born soldier Kevin Megeney.
Although Megeney's name had previously been published in Canadian media, the Canadian Department of National Defence
Department of National Defence (Canada)
The Department of National Defence , frequently referred to by its acronym DND, is the department within the government of Canada with responsibility for all matters concerning the defence of Canada...
initiated a military police
Military police
Military police are police organisations connected with, or part of, the military of a state. The word can have different meanings in different countries, and may refer to:...
investigation into Patterson's conduct to determine whether or not he breached doctor-patient confidentiality. He was later cleared when the DND received confirmation from Megeney's mother that she had consented to the publication of the article. However, in January 2009 he was officially censured by the B.C. College of Physicians and Surgeons and ordered to pay $5,000 in costs.
Awards and honours
- 2003 Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction Prize (for Country of Cold)
- 2003 City of Victoria Butler Book Prize (for Country of Cold)
Non-fiction
- The Water in Between (1999) Vintage Canada
- co-editor, Outside the Wire: The War in Afghanistan in the Words of its Participants (2008) Vintage Canada