Dr. Tasman was born in Louisville, Kentucky, received his M.D. (1973) from the University of Kentucky, interned at the University of Kentucky in Lexington (1973–74), completed his residency at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center (1974–76), and received his psychoanalytical training at the Western Institute of Psychoanalysis.
Dr. Tasman served as an assistant professor at the University of Connecticut Medical School (1976–82) and became a full professor in 1988. He returned to the University of Louisville School of Medicine as Professor and Chairman of the Department of Psychiatry in 1991.
His interest, in addition to teaching, has been scholarly. He has served as Editor of the Annual Review of Psychiatry (1989–92), Clinical Challenges in Psychiatry (1993), Senior Editor of the Textbook of Psychiatry (second edition, 2003), and Deputy Editor of the Journal of Psychotherapy Practice and Research. His bibliography spans over 110 publications.
Dr. Tasman has been active in organizational work and has received a number of awards; American Association of Directors of Psychiatry Residency Training (President, 1993–94); the Association for Academic Psychiatry (President, 1993–94); the World Psychiatric Association (Board of Directors, 2004); and the Pacific Rim College of Psychiatrists (President-elect, 2004). He received the AOA Faculty Award and the Presidents Distinguished Faculty Award for service to the profession from the University of Louisville (2003), the Nancy Roeske Award for Excellence in Medical Student Education (1991), and the Irma Bland Award for Excellence in Residency Training (2005).
Dr. Tasman was elected Vice President of the American Psychiatric Association in 1996–98 and served as President (1999-2000).