Now a resident in Internal Medicine, Joshua Miller ’02 earned three degrees at UR. During his time as an undergraduate, he was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity and played with both UR’s Symphony and Chamber orchestras. He currently lives in New York City.

Tell us about what you’ve accomplished since graduation.
I finished my Bachelors in 2002. Since then, I received a Master of Public Health degree from UR’s School of Medicine and Dentistry with a concentration in Health and Aging. I also received my Doctor of Medicine degree with Distinction in Community Service from URSMD. My wife, Ellen (’03, ‘08 MBA) and I were married in 2006. I am now a resident in Internal Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City pursuing a career in Endocrinology.

Did you ever get tired of living in Rochester?
Never. I lived in Rochester for ten years. While there were times when living in upstate NY could have been potentially isolating, I thoroughly enjoyed Rochester. In fact, now, as a resident of New York City, I think back to our time in Rochester and wish we had taken more advantage of the opportunities in and around Western NY. Rochester is a small city, but it is a robust city nonetheless. Where else in the world can you listen to top-notch music, view a world-class art collection and enjoy a garbage plate, all in just a few square miles?

Any advice for students thinking about medical school?
I would challenge anyone thinking about medical school to learn as much about their decision to pursue a career in medicine as possible. While researching individual schools and curricula is certainly important, make sure to talk with current physicians, young and old, to learn about the practice of medicine. Becoming a physician today is a markedly different experience than that of ten or twenty years ago. While the process of applying to medical school and pursuing a medical education can be overwhelming, it is also unbelievably gratifying and unique. If you are truly dedicated to a career in medicine, the challenges inherent in finding the medical school that’s right for you and the hard work involved in those four years of training are well worth the determination and dedication it takes to succeed.

In conjunction with the School of Medicine and Dentistry, the College has introduced four new undergraduate public health-related majors. What other initiatives can the University undertake in this field?
I was delighted to learn of the College’s collaboration with the Department of Community and Preventive Medicine in the School of Medicine in Dentistry to establish an undergraduate four-year public health degree track. Now, more than ever, it is crucial that the University continue to foster interdisciplinary collaboration, as it has in the past. Interestingly, the College Music Department has also recently collaborated with the Medical Center to establish performance opportunities for faculty, students and staff in the Medical School. It was relationships like these that played such strong roles in my Rochester education and will continue to influence my future career as a physician.

As part of a recent policy change, a maximum of three parties per night are allowed on the fraternity quad, and they must be pre-registered. A fourth group would have to pay UR Security $160. As a member of a Greek organization, what are your thoughts on this policy?
Just as the face of the college undergraduate is constantly changing, so too must Greek organizations adapt to an improved climate of responsibility and awareness. The policy change must have been enacted for a reason and I trust that the College administration is acting in the best interest of all undergraduates with these changing requirements. One of the most crucial aspects of a successful undergraduate student organization (Greek or other) is open communication with the College administration to best meet each other’s needs. I hope that the channels of communication remain open in the months and years to come to further foster the already strong and unique undergraduate experience that the University of Rochester offers its students.

After earning three degrees at UR, do you feel ties to the University as a whole or to one specific program?
My Rochester education was strongly dependent on my experiences in a number of disciplines concurrently through all ten years. I will always share ties with the College, the School of Medicine and Dentistry and the Eastman School. I still have close friends from all of my years in Rochester and keep in touch with fellow alumni from multiple degree programs.

What’s the best way for alumni to stay connected?
In recent years, the University has made terrific strides in improving its communication with alumni. I always look forward to reading the latest edition of the Rochester Review, Rochester Medicine Magazine and even the Campus Times (via email). Local alumni events are also a great way to keep in touch. The Medical School and College have each held many alumni events in New York City throughout the past year.

What’s something you miss about Rochester?
A close friend, mentor and Professor of mine in Rochester once told me that the secret to knowing if a place is a match for you can be discovered simply and with ease. When passing someone in the hall, if you smile and make eye contact with a stranger, they should do the same. Or if you get into an elevator and say “good morning,” you should hear the same offered back. For me, Rochester was indeed that place. I miss the comfort of roaming the halls of Rush Rhees, the tunnels under the quad and the corridors of Strong Memorial. Rochester is truly a special place to live and to learn and the friends and relationships I made there will last a lifetime. Of course, I’ll also miss a Garbage Plate from (none other than the original) Nick Tahou Hots on Main Street in downtown Rochester (www.garbageplate.com). If you haven’t been there yet, be sure to check it out!