IN MEMORIAM

Don R. Miller

Professor of Surgery

UC Irvine

1925-2010

Dr. Don Miller was a native of Kansas who received his MD at the University of Kansas in 1948. He then interned at the University of Illinois Research and Educational Hospital, Chicago from 1948-1949 after which he returned to Kansas for his graduate surgical training. Dr. Miller was always an excellent student, graduating with high honors from medical school and election to Alpha Omega Alpha and Sigma Xi. Dr. Miller continued as a surgical resident for the next eight years, except for a year of military service during the Korean War and a special research fellowship under the distinguished Professor Ake Senning, at the University of Zurich, Switzerland from 1957-1959.

 

In 1959 he was certified by the American Board of Surgery and also the American Board of Thoracic Surgery in 1960. He continued to progress academically, with election to the Society of University Surgeons, the Central and Western Surgical Associations, the American Association for Thoracic Surgery, the Society for Vascular Surgery and the International Cardiovascular Society.

 

As he advanced in academia he was recognized as a surgeon dedicated to academic medicine, and also as a very solid, honest, thoroughly reliable gentleman. Don’s writing included over 70 papers and book chapters. He was widely regarded for his modest manner and capacity for working with people of all levels. Socially, Dr. Miller was a gentleman; his personal life and character were above reproach. He was blessed with his wife Geraldine Ellen Miller and five delightful children.

 

When Don was proposed for a position as Chief of Surgery at the Orange County Medical Center, Dr. Connolly, the Chair of the Department of Surgery at the University of California, Irvine, was inundated with letters of recommendation from many distinguished chairs of surgery nationwide.

 

While at UC Irvine, Don had direct responsibility for undergraduate and graduate surgical teaching in addition to his medical center administrative duties. Don’s research included development of extracorporeal circulation for open heart surgery. He was also known for his work in the early development of intestinal ganglion cells and reflux esophagitis. Don served long and generously on many hospital and departmental committees which led to his being elected President of the Medical Staff.

 

In 1991, after 19 years at UCI, Don and his wife decided to return to Kansas where their children resided. They settled in Lawrence, Kansas which was driving distance from where their children were living.

 

Michael J. Stamos, MD, FACS

John E. Connolly, MD, FACS