Tacker, Willis A.
Biographical Information
Willis Tacker grew up in Wheeler, Texas. From childhood, Tacker wanted to be a doctor. After high school, he studied Biology at Baylor University and continued at Baylor Medical School to earn his MD degree and PhD in Physiology and Biophysics. Following an internship at the Mayo Clinic, he joined the faculty of Baylor Medical School due to a passion for teaching and research in CPR and defibrillation of the heart.
Tacker was part of the team invited to Purdue to start a Biomedical Engineering (BME) Program and helped found the Purdue University Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering in 1998. Tacker later directed the Hillenbrand Biomedical Engineering Center. He taught in the Weldon School, IU Medical School Program at Purdue, and Purdue’s School of Veterinary Medicine. He was invited to join the Association of Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) and the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE). Tacker served on the AAMI program committee, the board of directors, and as AAMI president.
Citation:
MSO 1, Purdue University Archives and Special Collections Oral History Program collection, Purdue University Archives and Special Collections, Purdue University Libraries.Found in 2 Collections and/or Records:
Willis A. Tacker papers
Includes office working file folders alphabetized, publication files, Army files, PH-D dissertations, awards, and certificates related to the establishment of Biomedical Engineering at Purdue in the 1970s and subsequent development of Purdue BME. Also contains research data and photographs of people and of hearts.