Dr. Petersen graduated from the Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine in 1980. He works in Albany, OR and specializes in Family Medicine. Dr. Petersen is affiliated with Samaritan Albany General Hospital.
"They just took some things for granted that this roof was not a particularly dangerous roof, that the pitch was modest," said Petersen's father, the Rev. Glenn Petersen. "I'm sure Hans didn't expect anything. He felt comfortable" at those heights.