Miller to lead Trauma and Surgical Critical Care
Richard Miller, M.D., has been named chief of Vanderbilt’s Division of Trauma and Surgical Critical Care.
Richard Miller, M.D.
Miller, who was the division’s first fellow from 1990 to 1992, has been serving as acting chief since last July, and succeeds John Morris Jr., M.D., who founded the Trauma Center at Vanderbilt in 1984 and served as division chief from 1986 to 2011.
The Vanderbilt Division of Trauma is the only Level 1 Trauma Center in Middle Tennessee, providing trauma care to more than 3,000 patients each year.
“We are quite excited by this appointment,” said Naji Abumrad, M.D., chair of the Department of Surgery. “Rick has been recognized nationally in this area for some time now, and we are certain that he will continue to build on the solid foundations established by Dr. Morris in creating the strongest academic trauma and critical care unit in the nation."
“I am honored to lead this incredibly smart, talented team of trauma professionals who demonstrate every day how we all play an integral role in caring for our patients,” said Miller.
“We will continue to focus on what we do best, trauma care, as well as provide ongoing research, education and resources to fully prepare each patient for what comes next on the road to recovery,” he said.
Miller received his medical degree from the Universidad C.E.T.E.C., Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic, after completing his bachelor of arts in biology/natural sciences from the University of South Florida.
He went on to complete his residency in general surgery at Easton Hospital and Hahnemann University Hospital in Pennsylvania. He then completed his fellowship in trauma and surgical critical care at Vanderbilt University.
Following faculty appointments at the Greenville Hospital System and Medical University of South Carolina, Miller was recruited back to Vanderbilt in 2002.
“Rick is uniquely suited to lead the Division of Trauma and Surgical Critical Care,” said Morris, associate chief of staff for Emergency and Transition Management for the Vanderbilt Health System. “He was the very first Trauma fellow at Vanderbilt. Consequently, he knows the division’s educational component inside and out. He left VUMC for a period to lead a major trauma center in South Carolina before rejoining us 10 years ago, so he also has this tremendous prior experience.
“I can’t think of anyone I would rather have following me as leader of the division,” Morris said.
Miller is a Diplomate of the American Board of Surgery, a frequent guest lecturer, and has authored more than 50 publications, including five book chapters. His current research focuses on the management and reconstruction of complex abdominal wall hernias.
“As we welcome Dr. Miller into this important position of leadership, we also wish to recognize and thank Dr. Morris, who stepped down last year as the founding division chief, having led the Division of Trauma and Surgical Critical Care for 27 years with outstanding service,” said R. Daniel Beauchamp, M.D., chair of the Section of Surgical Sciences and the Foshee Distinguished Professor of Surgery.