Sheldon I. Miller M.D.

Sheldon I. Miller, a founder of and early leader in the field of addiction psychiatry, died on Oct. 2, 2011, of complications related to amyloidosis of the heart. He was 73. Dr. Miller was born on June 29, 1938, to Edward A. and Evelyn (née Kleinman) Miller in Cleveland, OH. He graduated from Oberlin College (1960) and Tufts Medical School (1964), and completed his residency in psychiatry at the University Hospitals in Cleveland. He spent the next two years with the Public Health Service on the Navajo Indian Reservation, addressing the psychiatric needs of that population. During that time, he became concerned with the Navajos' struggles with alcoholism and depression. This interest defined the future course of his research. He continued to focus on this subject, conducting some of the first studies leading to the definition of fetal alcohol syndrome and of alcoholism as a disease. Dr. Miller was Professor Emeritus and former chair (1991-2002) of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Northwestern University. He was also the author of more than 100 publications, including major textbooks on addiction. Dr. Miller was a founding member of the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry, a member of the Group for the Advancement of Psychiatry, and a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. He was instrumental in achieving the recognition of the subspecialty of addiction psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. Dr. Miller was deeply involved in psychiatric education throughout his career. From 1996 to 1999, he served as the chair of the ACGME Psychiatry Residency Review Committee, which establishes policy and curricula for residency training programs across the United States. He was also a committed advocate for the mentally ill, tirelessly advocating on their behalf at both the state and national legislative levels. Dr. Miller is survived by his wife of 50 years, Sarah Miller (née Johnston); their daughter Lynne; son-in-law Mark Jones; grandchildren Lily, Ian, and Nell; and their son David W. Miller and his partner Lee Griesbach. A memorial service will be held by Congregation Sukkat Shalom on Sunday, Oct. 23, 2011, at 1 p.m. at the Community Church of Wilmette, 1020 Forest Ave., Wilmette, IL 60091. Memorial contributions can be made to the Sheldon I. Miller, MD Education Fund at the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry, 400 Massasoit Avenue, Suite 307, East Providence, RI 02914.