Tom R. Miller, M.D., Ph.D., professor of radiology and of biomedical engineering, died Oct. 3, 2007, at his home in Webster Groves. He was 63.
Miller was a professor and researcher in the Division of Nuclear Medicine at Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology at the School of Medicine for nearly 31 years.
Miller’s research focused on tumor imaging by positron emission tomography (PET) for cervical cancer and prostate cancer. He was the author of more than 85 published papers and the recipient of multiple grants.
“In my estimation, Tom’s greatest contribution was as an educator,” said Barry Siegel, M.D., professor of radiology and of medicine. “He was the program director of our nuclear medicine residency program for the last decade. I am certain he would say that his most satisfying and important activity was the time he spent teaching in lectures, Socratic conferences and at the viewbox.
“He had a gift for making difficult topics easy to understand and had the patience of a saint with his students, whether they were medical students, residents or technologists, or his faculty colleagues,” Siegel said.
In June, he received the Society of Nuclear Medicine Presidential Distinguished Service Award for his exemplary leadership and significant contributions to the molecular imaging and nuclear medicine community throughout his career.
He served as the scientific program chairman of the Society of Nuclear Medicine’s annual meetings for four years and was a board member and past chairman of the American Board of Nuclear Medicine.
Miller is survived by his wife Karen; daughter Michelle Miller-Thomas, M.D., a clinical fellow in the Division of Neuroradiology at the School of Medicine; son Daniel; and brother Max.
Funeral services were held Oct. 8 at First Presbyterian Church of Kirkwood. Memorial contributions may be made to the Cancer Research Fund at the Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 S. Euclid Ave., St. Louis, Mo., 63110.