“I enjoy patient care and improving a patient’s quality of life. I also enjoy the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges in the field of cardiology.”

A home-grown Knoxvillian, Dr. Acker graduated from Bearden High School before going on to earn a BA with High Honors from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.  Following his undergraduate studies, Dr. Acker received his MD from the University of Tennessee Medical College in Memphis. 

Dr. Acker remained in Memphis to complete both his internship and residency in internal medicine at Baptist Memorial Hospital.  Following his training in Memphis, he completed a fellowship in cardiovascular diseases at the University of Alabama Hospital at the University of Alabama in Birmingham. 

Dr. Acker began his practice with University Cardiologists in 1984.  His father, Dr. Joseph Acker, was a founding member of the group, (formerly known as Knoxville Cardiovascular Group). 

Dr. Acker is married to Carol, and together they have four children. 

• BA, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 1975
• MD, University of Tennessee Medical College, 1978

• Internal Medicine, Baptist Memorial Hospital, Memphis, 1978-1979

• Internal Medicine, Baptist Memorial Hospital, Memphis, 1979-1981
• Chief Resident, Baptist Memorial Hospital, 1980

• Cardiovascular Diseases, University of Alabama Hospital, UAB, 1981-1983

• National Board of Medical Examiners, 1979
• American Board of Internal Medicine, 1981
• American Board of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Diseases, 1983

• American College of Cardiology, Clinical Council on Cardiology
• Fellow, American College of Cardiology, 1988
• American Heart Association
• East Tennessee Region of American Heart Association, President, 1988
• American Medical Association
• Tennessee Medical Association
• Secretary, Knoxville Academy of Medicine, 1992
• Chief of Staff, University of Tennessee Medical Center, 1993
• Assistant Professor of Medicine, University of Tennessee Medical Center