James Q. Miller

James Q. Miller, MD (1926- May 15, 2005) was a American neurologist and educator in neurology based at the University of Virginia 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 in New York City. He was one of the first neurology residents at the Department of Neurology of the University of Virginia 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 University of Virginia.

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, now known by the eponym Miller-Dieker syndrome. [ [Miller JQ. Lissencephaly in 2 Siblings. Neurology 1963;13:841-850]

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. His interests lead to his appointment as Assistant Dean of Students at the University of Virginia and to the state Council on Medical Education. He received three times (a record) the Robley Dunglison Award, an annual recognition by the medical students for best teacher; the University-wide Harrison Teaching Award; and the national A.B. Baker Award administered by the American Academy of Neurology and the Distinguished Teacher Award by the American Neurological Association. His publications include a program of teaching tapes available for self-study for medical students and the study-aide "Neurology Recall". [ [Miller JQ, Fountain NB. Neurology Recall 2003. Lippincott Williams Wilkins, Philadelphia.] ]

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