Background
He was born in New Westminster, British Columbia in 1957 and raised in Nanaimo, and North Vancouver, British Columbia.
He was born in New Westminster, British Columbia 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.
1957–1992), better known as simply Doctor Peter, was a medical doctor in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada who promoted Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome and Human Immunodeficiency Virus awareness and education in the early 1990s through his regular segment on Canadian Broadcasting Company Television news broadcasts called In this series, Doctor Peter documented his own experiences as a person with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. Doctor Peter used honesty, pathos and humour to share his experience. The documentary was also nominated for an Academy Award. On September 29, 1986, he was diagnosed with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, soon after completing his medical training.
By 1989 Jepson-Young was unable to continue his medical practice due to his failing health.
Turning his attention to Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome education, in 1990 Jepson-Young began the Doctor Peter Diaries with five episodes airing on the Canadian Broadcasting Company Early Evening News. Through these short segments, in which he was only referred to as “Doctor Peter”, he shared his experiences with the general public.
Most viewers were not aware of his surname until after his death. The Diaries did much to educate the general public about Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome and Human Immunodeficiency Virus and put a human face on the disease.
Doctor Peter continued the series through 111 episodes,spanning two years from September 1990 up to his death in November 1992.
Shortly before his death, Jepson-Young established the Doctor Peter Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome Foundation. The foundation established the Doctor Peter Centre, consisting of a 24-hr specialized nursing care residence and day health program dedicated to helping those with Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.