David C. Miller
Encyclopedia
David C. Miller was an American
physician and epidemiologist
who attended to Albert Schweitzer
until the humanitarian's death and later devoted his life to famine and medical relief efforts together with his wife, who was Schweitzer's daughter.
Miller was born on March 9, 1917, in Elizabeth, New Jersey
. After graduating from the Duke University School of Medicine
in 1950, he attended Harvard University
, where he was awarded a master's degree in public health
in 1956.
He was employed by the United States Public Health Service
in Washington, D.C.
, where he was responsible for nutrition programs. Starting in 1957, he was assigned to the Public Health Service Indian Hospital in Tuba City, Arizona
, remaining there until 1959.
He went to Africa in the 1960s to perform a study on heart disease at the Albert Schweitzer Hospital
in Gabon
. He developed a close relationship with Dr. Schweitzer, and cared for him until his death in 1965.
He joined the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta in 1968. He married Rhena Schweitzer
, the only child of Dr. Schweitzer, in 1971, and the two traveled around the world offering medical assistance in Afghanistan
, Bangladesh
, Ethiopia
, Haiti
, India
, Nigeria
, Pakistan
, Vietnam
and Yemen
to those suffering from drought, famine, plague and war. He retired from the CDC in 1980.
Miller co-edited the book The relevance of Albert Schweitzer at the dawn of the 21st century with James Pouilliard, a work originally published by the University Press of America
in 1992 that collected papers that had been presented in August 1990 at the United Nations as part of the International Albert Schweitzer Colloquium.
Miller died at age 80 on March 27, 1997, due to lymphoma
at his home in Lavonia, Georgia
. In addition to his wife, he was survived by four daughters, a son and two sisters.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
physician and epidemiologist
Epidemiology
Epidemiology is the study of health-event, health-characteristic, or health-determinant patterns in a population. It is the cornerstone method of public health research, and helps inform policy decisions and evidence-based medicine by identifying risk factors for disease and targets for preventive...
who attended to Albert Schweitzer
Albert Schweitzer
Albert Schweitzer OM was a German theologian, organist, philosopher, physician, and medical missionary. He was born in Kaysersberg in the province of Alsace-Lorraine, at that time part of the German Empire...
until the humanitarian's death and later devoted his life to famine and medical relief efforts together with his wife, who was Schweitzer's daughter.
Miller was born on March 9, 1917, in Elizabeth, New Jersey
Elizabeth, New Jersey
Elizabeth is a city in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 124,969, retaining its ranking as New Jersey's fourth largest city with an increase of 4,401 residents from its 2000 Census population of 120,568...
. After graduating from the Duke University School of Medicine
Duke University School of Medicine
The Duke University School of Medicine is Duke University's medical school operating under the auspices of the Duke University Medical Center. Established in 1925 by James B...
in 1950, he attended Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, where he was awarded a master's degree in public health
Public health
Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals" . It is concerned with threats to health based on population health...
in 1956.
He was employed by the United States Public Health Service
United States Public Health Service
The Public Health Service Act of 1944 structured the United States Public Health Service as the primary division of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare , which later became the United States Department of Health and Human Services. The PHS comprises all Agency Divisions of Health and...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, where he was responsible for nutrition programs. Starting in 1957, he was assigned to the Public Health Service Indian Hospital in Tuba City, Arizona
Tuba City, Arizona
Tuba City is a census-designated place in Coconino County, Arizona, United States. The population was 8,225 at the 2000 census. It is the Dine' Nation's largest community, slightly larger than Shiprock, New Mexico. The Hopi town of Moenkopi lies directly to its southeast.The name of the town...
, remaining there until 1959.
He went to Africa in the 1960s to perform a study on heart disease at the Albert Schweitzer Hospital
Albert Schweitzer Hospital
The Medical Research Unit of the Albert Schweitzer Hospital was established in Lambaréné, Gabon, to study major causes of disease burden in the local population...
in Gabon
Gabon
Gabon , officially the Gabonese Republic is a state in west central Africa sharing borders with Equatorial Guinea to the northwest, Cameroon to the north, and with the Republic of the Congo curving around the east and south. The Gulf of Guinea, an arm of the Atlantic Ocean is to the west...
. He developed a close relationship with Dr. Schweitzer, and cared for him until his death in 1965.
He joined the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta in 1968. He married Rhena Schweitzer
Rhena Schweitzer Miller
Rhena Schweitzer Miller was an American humanitarian activist, the director of the hospital her father founded in west central Africa and a key organizer of the fellowship that bears his name...
, the only child of Dr. Schweitzer, in 1971, and the two traveled around the world offering medical assistance in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
, Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
, Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
, Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
, Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
, Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
and Yemen
Yemen
The Republic of Yemen , commonly known as Yemen , is a country located in the Middle East, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, and Oman to the east....
to those suffering from drought, famine, plague and war. He retired from the CDC in 1980.
Miller co-edited the book The relevance of Albert Schweitzer at the dawn of the 21st century with James Pouilliard, a work originally published by the University Press of America
University Press of America
University Press of America is an academic book publisher based in the United States. Part of the independent Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, it was founded in 1975 and boasts of having published "more than 10,000 academic, scholarly, and biographical titles in many disciplines"...
in 1992 that collected papers that had been presented in August 1990 at the United Nations as part of the International Albert Schweitzer Colloquium.
Miller died at age 80 on March 27, 1997, due to lymphoma
Lymphoma
Lymphoma is a cancer in the lymphatic cells of the immune system. Typically, lymphomas present as a solid tumor of lymphoid cells. Treatment might involve chemotherapy and in some cases radiotherapy and/or bone marrow transplantation, and can be curable depending on the histology, type, and stage...
at his home in Lavonia, Georgia
Lavonia, Georgia
Lavonia is a city in Franklin County, Georgia, United States. The population was 1,827 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Lavonia is located at ....
. In addition to his wife, he was survived by four daughters, a son and two sisters.