James Q. Miller, MD (July 6, 1926 – May 15, 2005) was an American neurologist and educator in neurology based at the

University of Virginia The University of Virginia (UVA) is a public research university in Charlottesville, Virginia. Founded in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson, the university is ranked among the top academic institutions in the United States, with highly selective ad ...

in Charlottesville, Virginia, USA.

Early life and education

He was born James Quinter Miller in Ohio. His undergraduate education was at Haverford College near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and his medical degree from the

Columbia Medical School Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons (VP&S) is the graduate medical school of Columbia University, located at the Columbia University Irving Medical Center in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan. Founded i ...

in New York City. He was one of the first neurology residents at the Department of Neurology of the

in Charlottesville, Virginia. He received additional training in neuropathology, genetics, and child neurology at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. He enlisted in the Air Force and served as a physician at the base in Newfoundland, Canada.

Clinical practice and research

In 1962 he was hired as a faculty neurologist at the

. He established the first cytogenetics laboratory in Virginia. In this capacity, he established statewide screening programs for sickle cell disease and heritable neurological disease. One of his early papers was his description of two siblings with

lissencephaly Lissencephaly (, meaning "smooth brain") is a set of rare brain disorders whereby the whole or parts of the surface of the brain appear smooth. It is caused by defective neuronal migration during the 12th to 24th weeks of gestation resulting in ...

, now known by the eponym

Miller–Dieker syndrome Miller–Dieker syndrome, Miller–Dieker lissencephaly syndrome (MDLS), and chromosome 17p13.3 deletion syndrome is a micro deletion syndrome characterized by congenital malformations. Congenital malformations are physical defects detectable in a ...

. Although his main early interests were in neurogenetics and inflammatory diseases of the nervous system, he maintained activities in most of the subspecialty fields of neurology. In collaboration with his colleague Fritz E. Dreifuss, he helped maintain a system of field clinics administered by the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Child Neurology Program. Although the emphasis was on epilepsy, patients with a wide range of neurological disorders were served. Three Appalachian field clinics in Tazewell, Wise, and Bristol, Virginia continue to be staffed by University of Virginia neurologists. He established one of the early comprehensive multiple sclerosis programs and was highly active in promoting research and participating in regional and national support groups and educatory efforts for multiple sclerosis patients. In his honor, the current multiple sclerosis program at the University of Virginia is entitled the “James Q. Miller Center for Multiple Sclerosis”.

Leadership in neurology education

The main focus of Miller’s career was in the development of methods of medical student education in neurology was an American neurologist and educator in neurology based at the

in Charlottesville, Virginia, USA.. His interests lead to his appointment as Assistant Dean of Students at the

and to the state Council on Medical Education. He received the Robley Dunglison Award, an award presented annually by U.Va medical students in recognition of teaching excellence, a record 3 times, and was also a recipient of the University-wide Harrison Teaching Award, the

American Academy of Neurology The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) is a professional society representing over 38,000 neurologists and neuroscientists. As a medical specialty society it was established in 1948 by A.B. Baker of the University of Minnesota to advance the ...

's A.B. Baker Award, and the

American Neurological Association The American Neurological Association (ANA) is a professional society of academic neurologists and neuroscientists devoted to advancing the goals of academic neurology; to training and educating neurologists and other physicians in the neurologic ...

's Distinguished Teacher Award. His publications include a program of teaching tapes available for self-study for medical students and the study-aide ''Neurology Recall''.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Miller, James Q American neurologists 1926 births 2005 deaths University of Virginia School of Medicine faculty Haverford College alumni Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons alumni