Steven Z. Miller

Steven Miller Obituary

MILLER-Steven Z. The faculty, staff and students of Columbia University Medical Center mourn the tragic loss of our friend and colleague, Dr. Steven Miller. A much beloved teacher and member of the pediatrics faculty since 1993, he was honored with numerous prestigious awards for his exceptional teaching skills, including the Columbia University Presidential Award for Outstanding Teaching. His students at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons (P&S) named him Teacher of the Year on numerous occasions. He was named Arnold P. Gold Associate Professor at P&S in recognition of his contributions to humanism in medicine. Dr. Miller graduated from Columbia College in 1980 and from P&S in 1984. Dr Miller was a dedicated, caring and thoughtful educator and pediatrician. Our deepest condolences go out to his wife, Dodi Meyer, M.D., assistant clinical professor of pediatrics at P&S, his children, his family and all who knew and loved him. Services will be Sunday, October 24, at 11 AM, at Congregation B'nai Jeshurun, 257 W. 88th St at West End Avenue. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Steven Z. Miller Family Fund, c/o The Meyer Family, 133 W. 81st St, NY NY 10024. Gerald Fischbach, M.D., EVP Columbia Univ. Medical Ctr.

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Published by New York Times on Oct. 24, 2004.

Memories and Condolences
for Steven Miller

6 Entries

Kent Sheets

November 2, 2004

I was fortunate to meet Steve via the national project mentioned in several of the other entries in this guest book. Our first meeting was in Washington, DC just after the events of 9/11 and I was very moved by Steve's comments about what it was like to be in NYC that day. Throughout the project he made tremendous contributions to our efforts, whether through his deep knowledge and understanding of medical student education, his humanistic character, or his well-timed humorous asides. We all got a glimpse into what a tremendous person he was and we were all saddened by the news of his death in the plane crash.

Condolences to his family members, colleagues, friends, students, and patients on his untimely death.

Kent J. Sheets, PhD

University of Michigan

Department of Family Medicine

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Phil Slocum

November 1, 2004

Everyday I think of the tremedous pain you, and so many must endure, because of the death of Steve, and so many other wonderful people. My thoughts are with you. He, like so many others on the plane, were creation's best. If there is a heaven, it surely met its quota that dark Tuesday.

Let me know if there is anything I can do to ease your pain.

Phil Slocum

DOMENICA TRIPODI

October 30, 2004

MY DEEPEST CONDOLENCES AND PRAYERS TO YHE ENTIRE MILLER FAMILY. I MET STEVE WAY BACK WHEN HE WAS FIRST STARTING HIS MEDICAL CAREER. EVEN AS AN INTERN AND RESIDENT AT EINSTEIN, I KNEW HE WAS A VERY SPECIAL PERSON AND WAS HEADED TO BECOMING A WONDERFUL DOCTOR. HIS LOVE FOR CHILDREN AND MEDICINE WAS EVIDENT FROM DAY ONE. I NEVER HEARD ANYTHING BUT KINDNESS AND COMPASSION IN HIS VOICE WHEN SPEAKING TO FAMILY AND PATIENTS.

WORKING WITH HIM WAS SUCH A JOY. I WAS WORKING NIGHTS AT THE TIME, AND AS A PEDIATRIC NURSE TAKING CARE OF VERY SICK CHILDREN, YOU NEEDED SOMEONE LIKE STEVE ON OUR UNIT. HIS SENSE OF HUMOR AND EASYGOING MANNER WERE GREATLY APPRECIATED. WE WOULD ALWAYS TEASE HIM THAT HE LOOKED LIKE THE COMEDIAN , DENNIS MILLER, BUT STEVE WAS A DEFINITELY BETTER LOOKING VERSION OF HIM, AND STEVE WOULD SMILE AND LAUGH. I COULD GO ON AND ON, THE MEMORIES ARE SUCH NICE ONES. STEVE, THE WORLD OF PEDIATRICS HAS LOST ONE OF THE BEST.

MY THOUGHTS, PRAYERS, AND CONDOLENCES ARE WITH STEVE'S WIFE: DR. MEYER, STEVE'S CHILDREN AND THE ENTIRE MILLER FAMILY. MY CONDOLENCES, DOMENICA TRIPODI

Ardis Davis

October 28, 2004

Members of the federally funded Family Medicine Curriculum Resource (FMCR) Project remember Steve Miller for his conviction, insight, creativity, and spirit. We extend to his wife, children, and family our deepest sympathy. All of us in the FMCR Project will remember Steve for helping to make this project truly collaborative, and for making it come alive with spirit, enthusiasm, and value. The outcomes of our efforts have been enriched by the contributions of one tremendous person who will be dearly missed.

FMCR PROJECT EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ON BEHALF OF ALL FMCR PROJECT MEMBERS

Members of the collaborative workgroup within the national Family Medicine Curriculum Resource (FMCR) Project are especially saddened by the loss of our friend and colleague, Steve. We came together three years ago not knowing how our collaboration was going to work. Steve brought to our process genuine caring, insight, energy, and desire for the greater good of our work together. This spirit saw us through many challenges and to an outcome greater than any one of us could have imagined at the outset. An external evaluation team examined our process and likened us to a "blended family". We were like family and now we have lost one of our own. We will truly miss Steve but will endeavor to carry out the work which he wanted to accomplish and which he was so influential in launching.

MEMBERS OF THE FMCR PROJECT'S PRECLERKSHIP COLLABORATIVE CURRICULUM PROJECT

Jeffrey Behar

October 25, 2004

To the entire Miller family go out my deepest respects and love.I have not seen steve in about 20 years and my regrets for not making the efforts to share in his in his life are profound. The memorial service was a revelation and a reminder of how he could find the good in people and how he found everyone could add something to his full life.

I knew steve so well through our midteens-early 20s. We spent -summers at an aptly named bungalow colony- JOY ACRES inwhat would now mbe a suburb. We talked so much about wishes and dreams and yet Steve-reticent about self-aggrandizement was a reluctant prodigy. We were all smart and educated and the conversations about all topics, especially girls-felt so profound. There were three of us especially- Roy,Steve and Jeff--destined to be friends forever. Each of us entering the different doctoring worlds around New York and each to a different life path= still an emotional connection to a smaller simpler time remained.

His memorial was a revelation as to the good works he had done,but more by thepalpable sense of a good and kind friend he had been to so many. Dodi, I wished, I had met and known of you and boy do I wish that our children could have met and played in Central Park. Our sixteen year old selves would have been pleasantly pleased. Those were very special times for all of us and to see 7 of us there after not seeing him in years tells so much about Steve. He was liked by all because his heart was optimistic and open to different things. I knew so little of what steve had become in the greater world, but I thanks the stars for the wonderful friend I had when the world was all ahead of us. I was very proud to have known him.

With all my prayers and fondness. Love,Jeffrey Behar

Christine Matson MD

October 22, 2004

Getting to know Steve and working with him on the Family Medicine Curriculum Resource Project's Preclerkship workgroup was a wonderful privilege. His contribution to the overall project and specific areas was invaluable, and reflected his commitment to medical education, and his being a warm and compassionate human being. I feel so sad for his loss, and my heart goes out to Steve's spouse and children.

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