UNMC_Acronym_Vert_sm_4c
University of Nebraska Medical Center

Daniel M. Miller Distinguished Surgical Oncology Lectureship

Dr. Daniel M. Miller

Throughout his professional career, Daniel M. Miller, MD, was dedicated to unraveling the mysteries of cancer and the treatment of this life-threatening disease. Considered a pioneer in cancer surgery, Dr. Miller was Nebraska's first formally trained cancer surgeon and a leading advocate in the care of cancer patients.

Dr. Miller played an instrumental role in creating one of the nation's first boards to evaluate the care of cancer patients and Omaha's hospice care program. His concern for patient care also led him to Central America where he and other physicians and dentists from Omaha began a program to teach medical procedures to health care professionals in Belize. They traveled to the country, offering their medical expertise and helping arrange transportation and lodging for patients to Clarkson Hospital in Omaha.

Dr. Miller was a founding member of the American Society of Preventive Radiology and a charter member of the Association of Hospice Physicians. Additionally he was a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a member of more than 40 professional medical organizations.

Having received his medical degree from Creighton University in 1942, Dr. Miller completed an internship at Michael Reese Hospital in Chicago before serving as a major and surgeon in the Army Air Corps during World War II. In 1946, he returned to Michael Reese Hospital to complete residency programs in surgery and pathology. After serving as chief resident from 1948-49, Dr. Miller went on to complete a fellowship in surgical oncology at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.

Dr. Miller returned to Omaha in the early 1950's where he practiced surgical oncology for most of his professional career. He also served as an associate professor of surgery at the University of Nebraska College of Medicine and as chief of surgery and the medical director of the hospice program at Clarkson Hospital. Dr. Miller authored several scientific papers and participated in numerous educational programs related to cancer and patient care.

Knowing his deep commitment to education and the advancement of cancer research, his sons created the Daniel M. Miller, MD Distinguished Lecture in Surgical Oncology in his honor. Since then family members and friends have supported the fund which serves as a fitting tribute to Dr. Miller and the significant contributions he made to the medical profession and the fight against cancer.  The Department of Surgery has hosted this lectureship annually since the inaugural lecture in 1999.

List of historic guest lecturers:

  • 2023, Jonathon O. Russell, MD, FACS
  • 2021, Bridget N. Fahy, MD, FACS
  • 2020, Kiran Turaga, MD, MPH
  • 2019, Armando E. Giuliano, MD, FACS, FRCSEd
  • 2018, Julie Ann Sosa, MD, MA
  • 2016, Douglas B. Evans, MD
  • 2015, Jeffrey Lee, MD
  • 2014, Raphael Pollock, MD, PhD
  • 2013, David L. Bartlett, MD
  • 2012, Elizabeth Mittendorf, MD
  • 2011, Peter D. Beitsch, MD
  • 2010, Mitchell C. Posner, MD
  • 2009, Richard Karl, MD
  • 2008, Charles E. Cox, MD
  • 2007, David Winchester, MD
  • 2006, John Daly, MD
  • 2005, James A. Edney, MD
  • 2004, Blake Cady, MD
  • 2003, Richard J. Andrassy, MD
  • 2002, David M. Ota, MD
  • 2000, Mary Margaret Kemeny, MD
  • 1999, Charles Balch, MD