While thoughts of the Cherokee National Forest and its wondrous natural beauty are never far from her mind, she cannot remember a day when she did not want to be a physician.
Dr. Phyllis Miller grew up in the small town of Ocoee, Tennessee, in Polk County. For her, nearby Benton was the big city. Following undergraduate study at Tennessee Tech, graduation from the University of Tennessee Medical School, and an internship at Baptist Hospital in Memphis, she returned to East Tennessee. After a residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Erlanger Hospital, Chattanooga became home.
During more than 33 years of practice locally, Dr. Miller has demonstrated exceptional care and concern for patients while also serving as an advocate for the health of women and babies. A few years ago, she decided to limit her practice to gynecology, but during her career, she has brought approximately 5,000 babies into the world.
“The year I took my boards I had to keep records of what I actually did,” she remembered. “I know how many babies I delivered that year, and doing some extrapolation I believe that number is pretty accurate. I did obstetrics for many years and loved it, but the middle of the night stuff got to be a killer. I also had a teenage daughter and needed to be at home more. When she grew up and went on her way, I did OB for a little while longer, but I think I have given it up for good. My youngest baby is now about five years old.”
Dr. Miller’s gynecological practice is divided between office gynecology and gynecological surgery.“ Early detection of disease processes is so important. I focus on my patient’s gynecological care, but I make sure they are getting recommended preventative care and screening such as mammograms, colon screening, lipid, glucose checks, and surveillance for bone health.”
While she refers patients with malignancies and those in need of related treatment to specialists, Dr. Miller performs surgical procedures for patients with benign conditions. She finds that pelvic organ prolapse is becoming more common as the population ages and sometimes requires surgery. Dr. Miller performs hysterectomies and surgically treats other conditions such as ovarian cysts, endometriosis, and benign pelvic tumors such as fibroids.
“More and more, we are trying to go to minimally invasive surgery, “ the doctor explained. “Laparoscopic surgery and endometrial ablations are options in some cases, and the hysterectomy is less prevalent now because of minimally invasive techniques like these. We describe the options to the patient, telling her everything that is available, and letting her make the choice. Often, though, it is the insurance company that makes the choice.”
In spite of administrative difficulties which plague the healthcare industry today, Dr. Miller has found the medical profession to be every bit as rewarding as she had hoped years ago. For her, there has been satisfaction and outright triumph against long odds.
“Possibly the most satisfying thing has been the ability to deliver healthy babies under adverse circumstances,” she offered. “We are able to provide so much more for premature babies today and for mothers with serious health problems that in the past might have precluded them from having children. When I started my residency, a 32-week baby had little chance of survival. These days, a 24-week baby has a chance of surviving intact. Also, just in women’s health, the ability to diagnose diseases earlier when they are much more treatable and seeing better outcomes is wonderful.”
In the interest of good health, Dr. Miller recommends a simple formula – clean living which includes a good diet, adequate exercise, weight control, and the avoidance of bad habits. “So many health problems are lifestyle related,” she remarked. “A huge problem in our society is obesity with associated problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, and increased risk of certain cancers. It is always rewarding to see a person improve these conditions through altering their lifestyle, rather than just depending on medications. However, there are health issues that occur to people through no fault of their own.”
Through the years, Dr. Miller has given generously of her time and energy through professional, civic, and charitable organizations. Her profession provided an obvious connection with the March of Dimes, where she was the chairman of the professional service committee and past member of the division board. She has served on the advisory board subcommittee for the Rape Crisis Center, and as president of the Tennessee Medical Association and the Chatanooga-Hamilton County Medical Society. Additionally, Dr. Miller has served as chief of staff of Erlanger Medical Center, and as a board member of Hospice of Chattanooga. She recently became a member of the Downtown Rotary Club, and is a founding member and president of the Polk County Education Foundation, which provides college scholarships to deserving students based on need and merit. In 2006, she was honored by Erlanger’s Baroness Foundation as a Distinguished Physician.
With precious little leisure time, Dr. Miller enjoys an occasional round of golf and visiting with her daughter Rachel Miller-Tester and son-in-law Robbie Tester. Recently, a mixed breed terrier, Tember, joined the family and spends time in both households.
An avid hiker, the doctor is planning a trip to Tanzania in January with the intention of hiking up Mount Kilimanjaro, which rises more than 19,000 feet above sea level. “I like to travel, both in and out of the United States,” she said. “I also enjoy snow skiing, but this upcoming trip is the most adventuresome thing I have attempted.” Facing challenges is nothing new for the doctor. In fact, she relishes them, attributing her successful career to a laser-like focus and taking advantage of opportunities. “You have to be ready for opportunities, and you kind of make them happen for yourself,” she said philosophically. “When I started out in medical school, it was hard. You had to have tunnel vision, or at least I did. There were a lot of people who would have made fine doctors but they got sidetracked by life in general. Those that made it had to sort of have blinders on. I think young doctors now, both men and women, have much more of a sense of balance.”
Of course, the Kilimanjaro hike is another challenge. The impending physical climb promises to be no more of a contest than those that she has already met and exceeded during a lifetime of service to women’s health.