Dr. James Q. Miller

James Quinter Miller, M.D., University of Virginia Alumni Professor of Neurology, Emeritus, died at the University of Virginia Medical Center on Sunday, May 15, 2005, from complications of cancer.

He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Alice-Marie March Miller; four daughters, Judith Miller Worthington of Timonium, Md., Nancy Miller Schroll of Falls Church, Va., Susan Miller Breckheimer of Lincolnshire, Ill. and Janice Miller Jones of Scottsdale, Ariz.; his four sons-in-law, eight grandchildren, and his sister, Lois Miller McDowell of Huntington, Pa.

He was born in Toledo, Ohio, on July 6, 1926, the son of Joseph Quinter Miller of Mt. Sydney, Va., and Mae Hooker Miller of Nokesville, Va.

He was educated at Haverford College and Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. His post-graduate training included Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown, N.Y., The University of Virginia Medical Center and Boston Childrens and Massachusetts General Hospitals. He served a twoyear tour in the United States Air Force in Newfoundland. His early career was significantly oriented toward the pathological and cytogenetic aspects of congenital disorders of the brain. This included identifying and describing a specific brain malformation, lissencephaly I, which is now termed the Miller-Dieker Syndrome.

Upon joining the UVA faculty in 1962, he established its first cytogenetics laboratory which he managed until its expansion into the genetics program based in the Department of Pediatrics. Dr. Miller became deeply involved in medical student education, as well as patient care and administration. He was Assistant Dean of the School of Medicine for seven years, chaired the University Senate Committee on Faculty Relations and after a partial retirement became Chair of the Hospital Ethics Committee.

He was the long-term director of the undergraduate program for medical students neurology and for many years chaired the schools Council on Medical Education. His education activities included the development of new teaching strategies for medical students in neurology including structured teaching packages, audiovisual lectures and patient demonstrations. He instituted the use, for teaching purposes at Virginia, of simulated patients, healthy persons trained to simulate the symptoms and physical finding of important neurological disorders.

Awards for teaching included the three-time recipient of the Robley Dunglison Award, The A.B. Baker Award for Lifetime Achievement in Neurological Education of the American Academy of Neurology, the Outstanding Teacher Award of the American Neurological Association and an Outstanding Teacher Award of the Virginia State Council on Higher Education. Most recently he was designated the Harrison Distinguished Educator at the Capital School of Medicine. In April 2005, he received the Raven Society Award for service to the University, its students and medical programs.

A generalist neurologist, Dr. Millers special clinical interests were neurological diseases of children, and persons with epilepsy and multiple sclerosis. He was a life-long participant in the programs of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, both nationally and locally, where he chaired the Blue Ridge Chapters Professional Advisory Committee since 1962.

Dr. Miller was a long-time participant in outreach programs managing epilepsy, and other long-term neurological diseases in children and adults in Appalachia. Patients were seen both in Charlottesville and in clinics sponsored jointly by the Virginia State Health Department and other agencies in the local communities. He was an elder and active member of Westminster Presbyterian Church, holding many offices and teaching in youth and adult educational programs. In the 1960s, he, and several others fostered a program aimed to stimulate interaction between members of black and white church congregations. His other interests included his family, gardening, travel, hiking, camping and all outdoor pastimes.

A memorial service will be held 11:30 a.m. Monday, May 23, 2005, at Westminster Presbyterian Church.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the James Q. Miller M.S. Diagnostic Clinic, Box 800394, Charlottesville, VA 229080294 or to the Westminster Courtyard Fund, Box 3365, Charlottesville, VA 229030356.