William Tierney, M.D. Closed Now

Dr. William M. Tierney is a renowned physician, biomedical informatician, and global health researcher best known for his pioneering work in electronic health records (EHRs) and their implementation in both the United States and resource-limited settings worldwide.

Trained as an internist and clinical researcher, Dr. Tierney spent decades at Indiana University and the Regenstrief Institute, where he collaborated with informatics pioneers such as Clement McDonald. At Regenstrief, he contributed significantly to the design and deployment of one of the earliest and most robust electronic medical record systems in the U.S., which became a model for health IT nationwide.

Dr. Tierney’s influence extends beyond the U.S. into global health informatics. He has worked extensively in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in Kenya, helping to implement open-source EHR systems tailored for HIV/AIDS care and other primary health services. His leadership in adapting informatics tools for low-resource environments has had a profound impact on healthcare delivery in underserved communities.

As a professor of medicine and informatics, Dr. Tierney has trained and mentored countless students and professionals in the art of combining clinical care, informatics, and health services research. He later served as Chair of the Department of Population Health at Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin, where he emphasized population health management and the role of data-driven care in addressing health disparities.

Dr. Tierney is also a past president of the American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA) and a fellow of the American College of Medical Informatics (ACMI). His career demonstrates a lifelong commitment to using health data systems to improve patient outcomes both in advanced healthcare environments and in some of the world’s most resource-constrained regions.