After Waterloo he went back to his studies, took his doctor's degree in 1817 with a treatise on the "Antiquities of Hydrocephalus," and became privat-docent in the Medical Faculty of the Berlin University.

His inclination was strong from the first towards the historical side of inquiries into Medicine.
This caused him to undertake a "History of Medicine," of which the first volume appeared in 1822.

It obtained rank for him at Berlin as Extraordinary Professor of the History of Medicine.

This office was changed into an Ordinary professorship of the same study in 1834, and Hecker held that office until his death in 1850.
The office was created for a man who had a special genius for this form of study.

It was delightful to himself, and he made it delightful to others.