Steve Miller Medical Education Day: A Celebration of Humanism in Medicine
On Wednesday, October 18, 2023, faculty, staff, patients, and supporters of the Department of Pediatrics participated in the 14th annual Steve Miller Day, a celebration of humanism in medicine. The event honors the legacy of Steven Miller, MD, a cherished faculty member and educator, and demonstrates the dedication of the department and VP&S to the principles that were the foundation of Dr. Miller’s work: improving the lives of children through compassionate, empathetic medical care.
Dr. Miller valued delivering medical education from both a scientific and humanistic perspective. He was committed to treating individuals with compassion, attuned to the needs of patients and their families. With that, our annual keynote speaker focuses on aspects of humanism, its importance, and how it can be nurtured and institutionalized into the practice of medicine.
Department of Pediatrics chair, Jordan Orange, MD, PhD, started the event by welcoming attendees and explaining the significance of Steve Miller Day. “This teaching day provides an opportunity to continue Dr. Miller’s tradition of integrating humanism into the practice of medicine and creating innovative ways to teach future generations. Countless students and colleagues have experienced the power of Dr. Miller’s vision and methodology as a result of this special day.”
The keynote speaker for this year’s event was Alan Shapiro, MD, FAAP Assistant Professor Department of Pediatrics at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Executive Director and Co-founder of Terra Firma, an organization that provides newly arrived immigrant children and families with quality healthcare and legal representation, regardless of immigration status.
Dr. Shapiro’s presentation was titled “A Framework for Providing Care to Newly Arrived Migrant Children and Families.” He spoke about health equity, social justice, immigrant rights, humanism in medicine, and how doctors and lawyers can collaborate to improve health and legal outcomes for immigrants. Dr. Shapiro discussed asylum cases he has been involved with, the U.S. immigration detention process, as well as the tragic consequences of U.S. immigration policy and shared a framework for understanding the experience of immigrant arrivals. He explained the genesis of his organization, Terra Firma, which was established in 2013 to address the complex health and legal needs of unaccompanied children and families.
The day continued with a Humanism in Medicine workshop, “Migrant Health Issues: Healthcare and Legal Perspectives” with Dr. Shapiro, and the group from Terra Firma. The program ended in the afternoon with Alan Mograby and Anthony Sulvetta, Steve Miller Fellowship Awardees from the VP&S Class of 2025, presenting “Effects of a Supplemental Oral Health Mini-course on Columbia VP&S Students.” They were followed by two additional Steve Miller Fellowship Awardees, Omid Cohensedgh and Anne-Sophie van Wingerden (VP&S 2024), presenting “OBGYN Care for Trans, Gender-Diverse, and Intersex Individuals.”
Learn more about the Steve Miller Fellowship Program here. To make a gift to the Steven Z. Miller Education Fund, click here, or contact Natalie Schweizer at ns3468@cumc.columbia.edu or 646-770-7763.