Miller, Missouri Wing Health Services Officer, Honored as Physician of Year

The Missouri Wing's medical officer, Lt. Col. David A. Miller, has been recognized as the 2021 Missouri Family Physician of the Year by the Missouri Academy of Family Physicians.

The 16-year Civil Air Patrol member has been a practicing physician for more than 30 years in the greater St. Louis area. Miller's medical career has included solo practice, group practice, urgent care medicine, volunteering at a free clinic, service to multiple organizations and boards, and teaching medical students and residents.

He received the 2020 Greater St. Louis Community Health Award from the St. Louis Academy of Family Physicians for his continuing work coordinating an ongoing COVID-19 testing program for underserved urban communities that has tested over 32,000 people so far.

A master-rated CAP health services officer, Miller has served as the Missouri Wing medical officer since 2007 and advises the wing's command staff on health issues, oversees the promotion and advancement of wing health services officers, serves on the wing's COVID-19 remobilization plan team, and has served as the medical officer for multiple Missouri Wing encampments.

He has also served as a squadron commander, group commander and wing chief of staff. He is an award-winning public affairs officer at the squadron, group, wing and region levels and is the North Central Region director of public affairs.

Miller was recognized as the Missouri Wing Senior Member of the Year in 2008 and as the National Civil Air Patrol Robert V. “Bud” Payton Public Affairs Officer of the Year in 2011.

“Civil Air Patrol has allowed me to broaden my service to my community in other roles besides my usual one as a physician,” said Miller, who is rated in 12 CAP specialty tracks. “It’s only through challenging ourselves that we find what our true inner strengths are.”

He graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine and completed a family medicine residency program at St. John’s Mercy Medical Center (now Mercy) in St. Louis.

“His focus is not only the health of his patients, but also that of his community,” said Dr. John Paulson, Missouri Academy of Family Physicians president. Paulson said Miller’s multiple leadership roles “provided the venue for him to work diligently to improve the health of patients and support network for family physicians and issues affecting them throughout Missouri.”