UH Primary Care Provider Relishes Practice Like Her Grandfather’s – with a Modern Twist

UH Clinical Update | April 2025

Jill Miller, MD, comes from a family of doctors, but it was her physician grandfather who left a lasting imprint.

Jill Miller, MD

“He was an old-time doctor who made house calls and delivered babies,” she says. “And he spawned a whole generation of doctors.”

Dr. Miller, who grew up in Shaker Heights, says, “I felt the calling at an early age – from fourth grade on.” She majored in psychology at the University of Michigan, then received her medical degree from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. She went on to do her internship and residency in internal medicine, with extra training in emergency medicine, all at MetroHealth Medical Center.

Her grandfather was a role model to her: She wanted to be able to have ongoing relationships with patients, as he did, so she ultimately decided on primary care.

The birth of her first child, a daughter, changed everything. “At 3 months old, we found out Madeline was profoundly disabled,” says Dr. Miller. “I had to raise a sick child, so I took a leave from primary care and went to work in urgent care at UH Chagrin Highlands,” which is now known as the UH Minoff Health Center.

That allowed her a more predictable schedule and more flexibility.

“Then, as she got older and our life was more settled, I was able to start getting into primary care again, in executive health,” says Dr. Miller.

Dr. Miller has been with UH since 1999, in Internal Medicine and Urgent Care. Then beginning in 2012, she joined a few other physicians who performed UH Executive Health physicals - daylong exams for executives of local and national companies. In 2019, she moved to the UH Select practice which provides concierge medicine.

“That is where I found out my current role in medicine was a kind of throwback to ‘old time’ medicine, more like the kind my grandfather practiced,” she says. “It’s a smaller, more intimate practice, and I get to spend more time with my patients.

“Ironically, my personal heartache with my child put me on the path to ultimately find my passion in medicine.”

Her experiences navigating the medical world with her daughter as a patient were invaluable, says Dr. Miller. “Taking my daughter to the doctor gave me the perspective of what it was like being a patient who is scared and looking for help,” which she believes made her a better doctor.

She also had another realization: “Regardless of how fortunate someone might be, health is promised to no one.”

Dr. Miller was among several physicians honored several months ago in the “Cliff Appreciates” program, and so was one of 11 UH physicians invited to a “Dinner with Doc.”

“That was a very special event – having access to Dr. Megerian and at the same time, with physician colleagues,” she says. “There aren’t that many opportunities to meet your colleagues.

“It made me even more proud to be part of UH, and grateful to UH for the opportunity to learn more about how we deliver care.”

To nominate a physician for this honor, click here for the Dinner with the Doc Nomination Form. the next deadline is June 17.