Born in Toronto, he studied medicine at the University of Toronto. He interned at the Toronto General Hospital and returned to graduate studies in the neuropathology division at the University of Toronto, completing an Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy and continuing his training in neurosurgery.
In 1969, Tator became a fellow in the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in Neurosurgery. In the same year, he became an assistant professor at the university and he became a Professor in 1980. He was head of the neurosurgery division at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and served as director of the Toronto Hospital Neurosciences Centre from 1983 to 1988.
Tator"s primary area of research was spinal cord injury, including injury prevention, especially in sports and recreation, and treatment.
He founded Think First Canada/Penser d"Abord, an injury prevention foundation, and served as its president In 2013, he published Concussions and their consequences: current diagnosis, management and prevention.
He was named to the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame in 2009. In 2003, he was inducted into the Terry Fox Hall of Fame.
