Remembering the Dr. Peter Diaries from CBC BC Community Blog

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Remembering the Dr. Peter Diaries

Twenty years ago, CBC television broadcast the Dr. Peter Diaries - a touching, honest, and deeply personal account of young physician Dr. Peter Jepson-Young's experience with HIV/AIDs. At a time when too few knew the difference between myth and medical reality, his story brought a human face to the epidemic.

From September 7 - 17, in commemoration of the 20th Anniversary of the Dr. Peter Diaries, CBC Radio One's The Early Edition will be dedicating a special series to examine the changing face of HIV/AIDS.

From September 7 - 9, host Rick Cluff will take you on a journey to revisit the archival tape from the diaries. You'll also hear from guests like Dr. Jay Wortaner, whose idea spawned what was later an Academy Award-nominated series and Dr. Peter's mother Shirley Young.

On September 10, The Early Edition will be broadcasting a live show from the Dr. Peter Centre. We invite you to join us at 1110 Comox Street in Vancouver from 5:30 - 8:30 am. If you would like to be part of the audience, please RSVP to cbc.vancouver.communications@cbc.ca by Wednesday, September 8, 2010.

During the show, Rick will be talking to Maxine Davis, Executive Director of the Dr. Peter Centre, film maker David Paperny and Sue Ridout who battled the politics of the day to produce the series, and Dr. Julio Montaner the president of the International AIDS Society and at one point, Peter's physician. Singer-songwriter Carolyn Neapole will also be performing throughout and sharing her experience as the music therapist of the Centre.

From September 13 - 17, The Early Edition will examine the changes in HIV/AIDS issues and introduce you to five very different faces who are living with the illness. Each day, you'll hear their story ranging from a youth to an intravenous drug user who have been diagnosed.

To listen to The Early Edition, tune in on 690 AM/88.1FM every weekday from 5:30 - 8:30 am or listen online HERE.

For more of CBC Vancouver's special coverage on the work of Dr. Peter and his impact on the community, click here.

Who was Dr. Peter?

Dr. Peter Jepson-Young was a young Vancouver physician diagnosed with HIV/AIDS in 1985. When his condition became too debilitating to continue practicing medicine, he sought to inform and educate the public and others living with HIV/AIDS via The Dr. Peter Diaries. In 111 television episodes broadcast on CBC TV over two years (September 1990-November 1992), Dr. Peter used honesty, pathos and humour to share his experience. Before his death in 1992, he established the Dr. Peter AIDS Foundation.