Miller to take over as dean for Nevada School of Medicine

Art Nadler

Friday, Aug. 20, 1999 | 4:14 a.m.

When Dr. Robert Miller takes the helm of the University of Nevada School of Medicine in November, he plans to run both the Reno and Las Vegas campuses from Southern Nevada.

This will be a first for the school because the former dean lived in Reno and commuted to Las Vegas twice a week.

Miller, 52, the vice chancellor of Health Services at Tulane School of Medicine in New Orleans, accepted the position late Wednesday night. The university announced his appointment on Thursday.

"I'm very excited and honored to be asked to do this job," Miller said in a telephone interview from California Thursday afternoon. "My intention is to live in Las Vegas because you have the biggest growth potential there."

Miller was one of two finalists, narrowed down from a field of more than 70 candidates interviewed by a university-sponsored committee that began a nationwide search a year ago this month. Dr. David Schapira, the senior associate dean of the school in Las Vegas, was the other finalist.

Schapira said he had no comment about the selection, but saw it as a "win-win" situation because he is now being considered for a new position -- the vice chancellor for Health Affairs.

Schapira said the position would involve developing health sciences in academic institutions throughout the state.

Miller said his priorities will include learning more about the Las Vegas campus, its physicians and the Southern Nevada community. He said he also wants to develop a close relationship with UNLV.

The new dean plans to also build a health sciences center on 10-acres of land the school has owned since 1994. Plans for a proposed 85,000 square-foot, $15 million education and patient-care center on Tenaya Way in the northwest part of the valley have been stalled for years.

UNR President Joe Crowley said $10 million has been raised so far, and he plans to go ahead with a project based on this budget.

"We will build a $10 million facility there and expand," Crowley said. "Now that we have a dean, we will sit down and see exactly what kind of building we need there."

Miller said he'd like to see a school of pharmacy located on the Tenya Way campus, basic science programs and other departments developed in conjunction with UNLV. He said he also wants to continue the medical school's close relationship with University Medical Center, where the school runs a residency program.

But Bill Hale, chief executive officer of UMC, thinks the hospital's marriage with the school may be on the rocks. He insists the new medical school building should be located near UMC.

"I think they made the wrong choice," Hale said of Miller's appointment. "Dr. Schapira has shown his ability to run the school over the last couple years."

Hale was angry that Miller has decided to go ahead with plans to build on Tenya Way. He thinks resident physicians should be in town, closer to the core population of Las Vegas.

"Once again this shows ignorance," Hale said. "That plan has no basis, and lacks any studies that the building should be built there."

Hale went so far as to say that he may ask the Clark County Commissioners, who act as the hospital board of trustees, to abandon the hospital's relationship with the school of medicine and become affiliated with another education facility.

Miller said even though a new building would be built on Tenya Way, he considers the school's affiliation with UMC to be an important one.

Crowley said the Las Vegas campus will now emphasize training specialist physicians, while UNR will focus on primary care education. He also stressed that UMC will continue to be an important part of the residency program.

Miller will become a consulting dean on Sept. 1, Crowley said, until he is officially appointed on Nov. 1.

Greg Bortolin, manager of media relations with the school, said a tentative press conference is scheduled in Las Vegas on Monday to introduce Miller to the community. No time or place has been set yet.