Louis T. Benezet Award

Robert "Bobby" Miller '76 is a recipient of the 2024 Louis T. Benezet Award.

Robert Miller is a 1976 CC graduate who majored in Biology. He received his M.D. degree from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and remained at Vanderbilt for Internal Medicine and Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine training. He is currently the Patricia and Rodes Hart Professor of Medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. In the early 2000’s, he began seeing post 9/11 service members experiencing respiratory symptoms following toxic inhalation in Iraq and Afghanistan. Lung biopsies in this cohort demonstrated toxic lung injury consistent with inhalation of smoke and fumes from burn pits. When the Department of Defense and the Veteran’s Administration expressed skepticism, Robert became an advocate for the veterans. He was interviewed by major news outlets, testified before Congress, and helped craft legislation ensuring that affected veterans receive disability benefits. He was invited to the White House to attend President Biden’s signing of the Sergeant Heath Robinson PACT Act in 2022. He is married to Dr. Bonnie Miller, a 1975 CC graduate. They have three children and three grandchildren. We honor Robert for his groundbreaking clinical work on burn pit injuries and his ongoing advocacy for Veteran’s health.