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Miller, Harry Willis, 1879-1977

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: Jul 2, 1879 to Jan 1, 1977

Biographical

Harry Willis Miller (Jul 2, 1879 to Jan 1, 1977), the well-known "China Doctor," was a world-famous missionary doctor and surgeon, and founder of more than 15 Seventh-day Adventist hospitals around the world.

Miller began his medical missionary career together with his wife Maude when they sailed for China in Oct 1903. Two years later, Maude died of an unknown disease. Miller remained until 1911. During this first stay in China, he cured a Manchurian leader, Marshal Chang Hsueh-liang of the opium habit.

While in the Washington, D.C., area (1912-1925), Miller was the medical superintendent and surgeon of the Washington Sanitarium and Hospital, which he developed into a Mecca for congressional leaders of the day. He became a consulting physician to three U. S. presidents. He pioneered new techniques of thyroid goiter surgery, which lowered fatalities from 50% to about 1%. He eventually performed over 6,000 goiter surgeries around the world.

In 1925 Miller returned to Shanghai to develop a network of Adventist health care facilities. After the occupation of Shanghai by the Japanese, Miller left for America in April 1939. By then he had served as a physician to the future Prime Minister of the People’s Republic of China, Chou En-lai, as well as Madame Chiang Kai-Shek, the wife of the Chinese President, and once treated the Republic of China’s first leader, Sun Yat-Sen.

From 1953 to 1973, Miller was again active, from time to time, in East Asia establishing Adventist sanitariums, hospitals and a soy milk plant in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Korea, and practiced surgery until the age of 93.

Found in 2 Collections and/or Records:

Harry Miller Collection

 Collection
Identifier:  Collection 252
Content Description Compared to Miller’s contributions to the Seventh-day Adventist Church and society in general, this collection only reflects a tiny portion of Miller’s life of active service. It contains some correspondences of Miller with the main subject being Miller’s younger brother, Clarence’s, estate; Miller’s certificates for medical practice, and awards from several entities. Also included are a number of photographs including those Miller took while serving in old China.
Dates: 1902 - 1977

Harry Miller Collection

 Accession
Identifier: Collection 252