Dr. Willard received his medical degree at University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, where he grew up. He completed his general surgical training at LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport Louisiana. From there, he completed a two-year Cardiothoracic Surgery fellowship at Albert Einstein College of Medicine - Montefiore Medical Center in Bronx, NY. He opted for an additional year of fellowship training in minimally invasive cardiac and off-pump complex coronary surgery under Dr. Nirav Patel at Northwell Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan, NY. He joined Northern Light Health Eastern Maine Medical Center in August 2024 and treats a variety of adult cardiac pathology including coronary artery bypass, valvular disease, aortic aneurysm/dissection, some adult congenital anomalies, TAVR, and insertion of microaxial ventricular assist devices in acute heart failure.