Ian Simpson was born in 1935, the son of Joseph and Nessie ( McDougall ) Simpson. His early schooling was at the two room village school, where his mother became the infant teacher.From the age of ten he was educated at Bedford School. In 1954 after obtaining an exhibition scholarship to Cambridge University, he went to Pembroke College. In 1957 he went to The London Hospital in the East end of Lonmdon,and completed his medical studies, and graduated with his medical degree in 1960. He spent the next three years in junior hospital jobs, at The London Hospital, and then at Bath In 1963 he accepted a position with the Newfoundland Government for one year as an assistant physician in the Cottage Hospitals. After three very full and exciting years in rural Newfoundland he decided that he would stay in Newfoundland, and relocated to Corner Brook, where he has spent the rest of his career and where he still lives.. He has published articles in the Canadian Family Physician journal, the CMAJ, and in Women's Health Perspectives. He has been recognized and honoured by the Canadian College of Family Practice.