Dr Robert Clell Miller is the founding editor in chief of the American Society for Radiation Oncology's (ASTRO's) third academic journal, Advances in Radiation Oncology. Long before that auspicious position, Bert has been the mentor, ally, and friend to innumerable colleagues in the radiation oncology profession. Bert has instilled in these colleagues his legacy as a strong advocate for patient-centered care and a compassionate approach to patient care. As he steps away as editor in chief for Advances in Radiation Oncology, his absence will be keenly felt.
When he told us he was leading a new journal, we remember thinking, “Really, I didn't know that was something a person could do.” As with so many ventures in his life, Bert actualized big ideas and helped others to grow. When he said, “I'm embarking on a new adventure and I hope you'll come along,” who could resist that lure? We could not and what an adventure it has been.
Dr Miller has had a remarkable and diverse career. As a physician at Mayo Clinic for 25 years, he led 5 NCI-funded multi-institutional phase 3 cooperative group trials examining the effectiveness of drugs in the mitigation of radiation injury. He has an abiding interest in bringing the best of medical care to community practices. At Mayo Clinic, he was vice chair for regional practices, medical director at the Northfield campus, vice chair of the board of trustees at the Albert Lee campus, and Mayo Health System clinical liaison. His current focus on health disparities in Appalachia marks a continuation of his commitment to community practices.
Bert has a remarkable ability to see several steps ahead and move to meet that destiny, bringing colleagues in his wake. He has been a leader in particle therapy, first as a team member in the construction of Mayo Clinic's 2 particle radiation therapy centers, where he was also vice chair for research (particles). While at Mayo Clinic, he was an associate fellow at the University of Oxford Particle Therapy Research Institute as well as chair of the Data Safety Monitoring Board for the Proton Collaborative group in Bloomington, Indiana. He shifted his pennant from Mayo to the University of Maryland as medical director of the Maryland Proton Treatment Center, where he saw the center through the first years of COVID-19.
Dr Miller was an early advocate supporting the potential of data science for improving health care for all patients. In 2015 at Mayo Clinic, he led in the first effort to create a departmental learning health system. Subsequently, combining both clinical and entrepreneurial insights, Bert founded Project Osprey, a big data platform aggregating demographic, tumor, treatment, cost, and outcomes data across approximately 84,000 patients.
Perhaps unknown to many, Bert began his scientific career as a medical physicist at the University of Kentucky in 1988, progressing quickly to a radiation biology researcher and to then embrace medicine as a first-year intern in internal medicine at the University of Kentucky in 1993. His dedication to fostering academic publications was recognized as he became editor-in-chief of Rare Tumors in 2009. Consistent with his pattern of always taking a broader view, Dr Miller added to his accomplishments a master's degree in business administration from the University of Oxford in 2013.
Bert's dedication to service extended to his decision to join the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary's Aviation program: not a common choice. The Physics Section Editor was surprised at his solicitation: “I've requested your representation of Advances at the annual ASTRO Board of Directors meeting [because] I'm attending [flight] crew resource management training for the Coast Guard's Auxiliary Aviation Program.” Surprised as Bert's friends sometimes are by his connections and breadth of horizons, Dr Anthony Zietman requested proof at the end of the presentation. Presto! Bert's love of technology provided the following proof: He currently is a basic life support and tactical combat casualty care instructor with the Tennessee State Guard.
Bert's editorial expertise is the real foundation for what makes Advances great. His diligence in peer review and bringing together so many bright and dedicated people ensures that what Advances readers see is scientifically sound. He and deputy editor Dr Jillian Tsai worked virtually night and day during the early days of the pandemic to move COVID-19 manuscripts through the peer review process rapidly to get knowledge of best practices and prior experiences in Wuhan, Beijing, Shanghai, Taipei, and other places into the hands of clinicians at record speed.
Bert has been a steadfast friend and mentor to many. His dedication to his patients is exceeded only by his dedication to his family. It has been a privilege to be invited to journey with him sharing in joys, sorrows, and amazement. We look forward to the next call as he embarks on a new adventure and what it will bring to our field.
Disclosures
The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
Footnotes
Sources of support: This work had no specific funding.