Peter Jepson-Young, M.D. (June 8, 1957 – November 15, 1992), better known as Dr. Peter, was a Canadian medical doctor who promoted

HIV/AIDS Human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is a spectrum of conditions caused by infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), a retrovirus. Following initial infection an individual ...

awareness and education in the early 1990s through his regular segment on

CBC Television CBC Television (also known as CBC TV) is a Canadian English-language broadcast television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster. The network began operations on September 6, 1952. Its French-l ...

news broadcasts called ''The Dr. Peter Diaries''. In this series, Dr. Peter documented his own experiences as a person with AIDS. A documentary of his life made the year after his death was nominated for an

Academy Award The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...

Background

He was born in

New Westminster New Westminster (colloquially known as New West) is a city in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia, Canada, and a member municipality of the Metro Vancouver Regional District. It was founded by Major-General Richard Moody as the capita ...

British Columbia British Columbia (commonly abbreviated as BC) is the westernmost province of Canada, situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. It has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that include rocky coastlines, sandy beaches, ...

, in 1957 and raised in

Nanaimo Nanaimo ( ) is a city on the east coast of Vancouver Island, in British Columbia, Canada. As of the Canada 2021 Census, 2021 census, it had a population of 99,863, and it is known as "The Harbour City." The city was previously known as the "H ...

and North Vancouver, British Columbia. After graduation in 1975 from

Delbrook Senior Secondary School Delbrook Senior Secondary was a public high school from 1957 to 1977 in the District of North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, part of School District 44 North Vancouver. History Delbrook opened in 1957 as only the second secondary school ...

in North Vancouver, he attended

medical school A medical school is a tertiary educational institution, or part of such an institution, that teaches medicine, and awards a professional degree for physicians. Such medical degrees include the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS, M ...

at the

University of British Columbia The University of British Columbia (UBC) is a public university, public research university with campuses near Vancouver and in Kelowna, British Columbia. Established in 1908, it is British Columbia's oldest university. The university ranks a ...

in the 1980s and did his residency in

Ottawa Ottawa (, ; Canadian French: ) is the capital city of Canada. It is located at the confluence of the Ottawa River and the Rideau River in the southern portion of the province of Ontario. Ottawa borders Gatineau, Quebec, and forms the core ...

Ontario Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...

. On September 29, 1986, he was diagnosed with AIDS, soon after completing his medical training. In 1992, Jepson-Young had survived with an AIDS diagnosis longer than any person in British Columbia. In 2011, a memorial to Jepson-Young was installed in St. Paul's Anglican Church, Vancouver.

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. Dr. Peter continued the series through 111 episodes from September 1990 up to his death in November 1992. In 1993, '' The Broadcast Tapes of Dr. Peter'' was nominated for an

for Best Documentary Feature. Journalist Daniel Gawthrop published a biography, ''Affirmation: The AIDS Odyssey of Dr. Peter'', in 1994.

Foundation and Dr. Peter Centre

Shortly before his death, Jepson-Young established the Dr. Peter AIDS Foundation. The foundation established the Dr. Peter Centre, consisting of a 24-hour specialized nursing care residence and day health program dedicated to helping those with HIV/AIDS.

References

External links

The Dr. Peter Centre website
* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Jepson-Young, Peter 1957 births 1992 deaths University of British Columbia alumni Canadian HIV/AIDS activists AIDS-related deaths in Canada Canadian diarists People from New Westminster Canadian television personalities Canadian LGBT broadcasters 20th-century Canadian physicians 20th-century diarists 20th-century Canadian LGBT people