Deborah Miller has worked in a variety of health care environments in Minnesota during the past 30 years, including more than two decades managing health care clinics. Miller began working with Northwestern Health Sciences University as a consultant in 1999, joining a team from Northwestern Health Sciences University, the University of Minnesota, Children’s Hospital and Clinics, and HealthEast in developing natural care services in the new Woodwinds Health Campus in Woodbury. The concept became The Natural Care Center at Woodwinds, which opened in August 2000 and has become a national model for natural care clinics located on hospital/medical office campuses.

“As the largest natural health care provider in Minnesota and a leading academic health care institution, it is imperative that Northwestern provide active leadership in natural health care and is a pioneer in developing integrative settings,” says Miller.

Miller joined Northwestern full-time in 2000 as the Director of the Institute for Health and Wellness, and worked extensively on developing the University’s Healthy Living Lecture Series. The series, which drew thousands of participants, included movement classes, health and wellness related lectures, meditation, and natural approaches to chronic disease.

Miller was appointed Clinics Administrator in 2003, and in that role, has direct operational oversight of the University’s system of five public clinics. As the largest provider of natural health care services in Minnesota, Northwestern’s clinics recorded more than 72,000 patient visits in 2006. Miller is responsible for the leadership, planning, implementation, assessment and accountability of business operations in the clinic system, which includes two natural care centers and three teaching clinics. She also supports clinical collaborative efforts playing a key role in building and maintaining collaborative business and clinical relationships with other health care and academic organizations to enhance the patient care and student clinical experiences. Her position also supports the Program Deans to ensure patient care and educational standards are met.

Prior to working at Northwestern, Miller worked for the HealthEast Care System for several years managing clinics with strong natural care components. She also previously managed more traditional medical clinics, and began her career in health care as a nurse. Miller earned her licensed practical nurse degree from the Rochester School of Practical Nursing in 1976.

“Having a nursing background has afforded me the ability to successfully build relationships between health care providers and institutions and blend various forms of healing to nurture the body, mind and spirit of those we serve,” notes Miller.

Miller and her husband have four children.