Ernest Wilfred April (1939 - 2021) was a professional anatomist at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons who gained prominence for his controversial defense of the use of Nazi medical drawings in anatomy textbooks.[1] [2] [3] He was best known for championing Pernkopf atlas, a volume composed by leading Austrian Nazi Eduard Pernkopf. April described the atlas as "a phenomenal book, very complete and thorough and authoritative."[4]
April earned his undergraduate degree at Tufts University in 1961 and his Ph.D. in anatomy from Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1969.[5] He was appointed course director of gross anatomy in 1971 and served in that position until 2009.[6] He stepped down from his teaching role after a Title IX investigation in 2010.[7]
In addition to running the human anatomy program at Columbia University, April served for many years as a Republican and Conservative councilman in Rutherford, New Jersey.[8]